835 


1877 


BANCROFT  LIBRARY 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


ELEANOR  ASHBY  BANCROFT 


1903-1956 


Graduate  of  the  University  of  California  with  the 
degree  of  B.A.  in  history,  1926,  and  the  Certificate 
of  Librarianship,  1938.  Associated  with  the  Ban- 
croft Library  for  36  years  as  student  assistant, 
reference  librarian,  and  Assistant  to  the  Director, 
Mrs.  Bancroft  attained  wide  recognition  as  a  bibli- 
ographer and  an  authority  on  the  history  of  Cali- 
fornia and  the  West.  In  remembrance  of  a  warm 
and  genial  personality,  and  of  long  and  devoted 
service  to  scholarship,  this  gift  is  presented  by  her 
friends. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING 


ASP 


OR  AN 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  FAITH  AND  DOCTEINE 


OF  THE 


CHURCH  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  OF  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS, 

BY  PARLEY  P.  PRATT. 

[REVISED.] 

* 

ALSO,  AN  ANALYSIS  OF  ISAIAH  29. 


'BEHOLD,  THE  FORMER  THINGS  ARE  COME  TO  PASS,  AND  NEW  THINGS  DO  i  DECLARE} 
BEFORE  THEY  SPRING  FORTH  I  TELL  YOU  OF  THEM."— lSd.  42:9. 

"PRODUCE  YOUB  CAUSE,  SAITH  THE  LORD  ;  BRING  FORTH  YOUR  STRONG  REASONS,  SAITH 

THE  KING   OF  JACOB."— Isd.  41 :  21. 


PIANO, 'ILL., 

D  BY  THE  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION  OF  THE  REORGANIZED 
CHURCH  OF  CHRIST. 

1877. 


FS3, 


PREFACE 


TO  THE 


FIFTH    REVISED    EDITION 


We  present  this  as  the  Fifth  Edition,  by  the  Reorganized 
Church,  of  this  well  known  and  widely  circulated  work.  Its 
continued  republication  is  because  it  has  proved  to  be  one  of 
the  best  means  for  giving  instruction  upon  the  dealings  of  God 
with  the  nations,  and  upon  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  that  has 
ever  been  published,  perhaps  the  best,  considering  its  size  and 
cheapness. 

It  is  in  constant  demand,  being  like  a  small  library  in 
itself,  in  its  condensed  and  yet  clear  and  distinct  interpretations 
of  the  prophecies  and  teachings  of  the  Prophets  and  Patri- 
archs, of  Christ  and  the  Apostles. 

In  this  respect  it  satisfies  the  want  felt  for  a  more  literal 
rendering  of  the  words  of  inspired  men  in  their  prophetic 
declarations  and  teachings;  and  therein  it  is  an  aid  to  faith  in 
God  and  to  belief  in  the  Scriptures. 

In  its  present  form  it  has  the  advantage  of  being  in  a 
size  that  can  be  bound  both  in  paper  and  in  cloth,  the  latter 
being  much  more  preferable  for  its  durability  for  such  constant 
service;  also  it  is  more  of  a  pocket  size  and  not  as  liable  to  be 
broken. 

PLANO,  Illinois,  Nov.  20th,  1876, 


PREFACE 


TO  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  EDITION. 


During  the  last  nine  years  the  public  mind  has  been  con- 
stantly agitated,  through  all  parts  of  our  country,  with  the  cry 
of  "Mormonism,  Delusion,  Imposture,  Fanaticism/1  &c.,  chiefly 
through  the  instrumentality  of  the  press.  Many  of  the  news- 
papers of  the  day  have  been  constantly  teeming  with  misrep- 
resentations and  slanders  of  the  foulest  kind,  in  order  to  des- 
troy the  influence  and  character  of  an  innocent  society  in  its 
very  infancy ;  a  society  of  whose  real  principles  many  of  them 
know  nothing  at  all.  Every  species  of  wickedness  has  been 
resorted  to,  and  all  manner  of  evil  has  been  spoken  against 
them  falsely;  insomuch,  that  in  many  places,  houses  and  ears 
are  closed  against  them,  without  the  possibility  of  being  heard 
for  a  moment.  Were  this  the  only  evil,  we  might  have  less 
cause  of  complaint;  but  in  consequence  of  this,  we  have  been 
assaulted  by  mobs,  some  of  our  houses  have  been  torn  down 
or  burned,  our  goods  destroyed,  and  fields  of  grain  laid  waste. 
Yea,  more,  some  of  us  have  been  stoned,  whipped,  and  shot; 
our  blood  has  been  caused  to  flow,  and  still  smokes  to  heaven, 
because  of  our  religious  principles  in  this  our  native  land,  the 


PREFACE.  5 

boasted  land  of  liberty  and  equal  laws,  while  we  have  sought 
in  vain  for  redress,  while  officers  of  State  have  been  deaf  to 
the  voice  of  innocence,  imploring  at  their  feet  for  justice,  and 
protection  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  rights  as  American  citi- 
zens. 

Under  these  circumstances  what  could  be  done?  How 
were  we  to  correct  the  public  mind  ?  We  were  few  in  num- 
ber, and  our  means  of  giving  information  very  limited;  the 
columns  of  most  of  the  papers  were  closed  against  us,  their  pop- 
ularity being  at  stake  the  moment  our  principles  were  admitted . 
It  is  true  we  publish  a  monthly  paper,  in  which  our  principles 
are  clearly  set  forth;  but  its  circulation  is  limited  to  a  few 
thousands.  Under  these  circumstances,  had  we  the  tongue  of 
angels,  and  tlic  zeal  of  apostles,  with  our  hearts  expanded  wide 
as  eternity,  with  the  intelligence  of  heaven,  and  the  love  of 
God  burning  in  our  bosoms,  and  commissioned  to  bear  as  joy- 
ful tidings  as  ever  was  borne  by  Michael  the  Archangel  from 
the  regions  of  glory;  yet  it  would  have  been  as  impossible  for 
us  to  have  connmnicated  the  same  to  the  public,  as  it  was  for 
Paul  when  he  stood  in  the  midst  of  Ephesus,  to  declare  the 
glad  tidings  of  a  crucified  and  risen  Redeemer;  when  his 
voice  was  lost  amid  the  universal  cry,  of  "great  is  Diana  of 
the  Ephesians."  Go  lift  your  voice  to  the  tumultuous 
waves  of  the  ocean,  or  try  to  reason  amid  the  roar  of  cannon 
while  the  tumult  of  war  is  gathering  thick  around,  or  speak 
to  the  howling  tempest  while  it  pours  a  deluge  over  the  plains ; 
let  your  voice  be  heard  amid  the  roar  of  chariots,  rushing  sud- 
denly over  the"  pavements;  or  what  is  still  more  foolish,  con- 
verse with  a  man  who  is  lost  in  slumber,  or  reason  with  a 
drunkard  while  he  reels  to  and  fro  under  the  influence  of  the 
intoxicating  poison,  and  these  acts  will  convince  you  of  the 
impossibility  of  communicating  truth  to  that  soul  who  is  willing 
to  makeup  his  judgment  upon  popular  rumor;  or  to  be  wafted 


6  PREFACE. 

gently  down  the  current  of  public  opinion,  without  stopping 
for  a  moment  to  listen,  to  weigh,  to  hear  both  sides  of  the 
question,  and  j  udge  for  himself.  One  of  the  greatest  obstacles 
in  the  way  of  the  spread  of  truth  in  every  age,  is  the  tide  of 
public  opinion.  Let  one  ray  of  light  burst  upon  the  world  in 
any  age,  and  it  is  sure  to  come  in  contact  with  the  traditions 
and  long  established  usages  of  men,  and  their  opinions;  or 
with  some  religious  craft,  so  that  like  the  Ephesians  they 
counsel  together,  what  shall  be  done;  their  great  goddess  will 
be  spoken  against,  her  magnificence  despised,  her  temple  de- 
serted :  or  what  is  still  worse,  their  craft  is  in  danger,  for  by 
this  they  have  their  wealth.  Call  to  mind  the  apostles  in  con- 
tact with  the  Jewish  Rabbies,  or  with  Gentile  superstitions; 
in  short,  at  war  with  every  religious  establishment  on  the 
earth.  Witness  the  popular  clamor;  "If  we  let  them  thus 
alone,  all  men  will  believe  on  them,  and  the  Romans  will  come 
and  take  away  our  place  and  nation."  "These  men  that  turn 
the  world  upside  down  have  come  hither  also."  "What  new 
doctrine  is  this,  for  thou  bringest  certain  strange  things  to  our 
ears?"  "These  men  do  exceedingly  trouble  our  city,  and  teach 
customs  which  are  not  lawful  for  us  to  receive  and  observe, 
being  Romans."  "What  will  this  babbler  say,  he  seems  to  be 
a  setter  forth  of  strange  gods?"  and  many  other  such  like 
sayings. 

Or,  let  us  for  a  moment  contemplate  the  events  of  a  later 
date :  for  instance,  the  Mother  Church  against  the  reformers  of 
various  ages;  see  them  belied,  slandered,  degraded,  whipped, 
stoned,  imprisoned,  burned,  arid  destroyed  in  various  Ways; 
while  the  ignorant  multitude  were  made  to  believe  they  were 
the  very  worst  of  men.  Again,  think  for  a  moment  of  the 
struggles  of  Columbus;  an  obscure  individual,  of  limited 
education  but  blessed  with  a  largeness  of  heart,  a  noble  genius, 
a  mind  which  disdained  to  confine  itself  to  the  old  beaten 


PREFACE.  7 

track.  Accustomed  to  think  for  himself,  he  burst  the  chains 
which,  in  ages  past,  had  held  in  bondage  the  nations  of  the 
earth.  He  soared  aloft,  as  it  were  on  eagle's  wings:  out- 
stripped and  left  far  behind  the  boasted  genius  of  Greece  and 
Kome;  penetrated  the  dark  mysteries  which-  lay  concealed 
amid  the  western  waters.  Behold  him  struggling  for  eight 
years  against  the  learned  ignorance  of  the  courts  and  councils 
of  Europe;  while  the  sneer  of  contempt,  the  ringer  of  scorn, 
and  the  hiss  of  derision,  were  the  solid  arguments  opposed  to 
his  theory.  But  what  was  the  result  when,  after  many  a 
fruitless  struggle,  an  expedition  was  fitted  out,  consisting  of 
three  small  vessels  ?  A  new  world  presents  itself  to  the  won- 
dering nations  of  the  East,  destined  at  no  distant  period,  to 
become  the  theatre  of  the  most  glorious  and  astonishing  events 
of  the  last  days.  This  fact  was  no  sooner  demonstrated,  than 
their  philosophical,  geographical,  and  religious  objections  van- 
ished in  a  moment;  haughty  ignorance  and  bigotry  were  for 
once  constrained  to  cast  their  honors  in  the  dust;  and  bow 
their  reverend  heads  at  the  feet  of  real  worth;  and  learn  in 
humble  silence  that  one  fact  clearly  demonstrated  is  worth 
ten  thousand  theories  and  opinions  of  men. 

Having  said  so  much  to  impress  upon  the  human  mind 
the  necessity  of  hearing,  and  then  judging,  I  would  only  add, 
that  the  object  of  this  publication  is  to  give  the  public  correct 
information  concerning  a  religious  system,  which  has  pene- 
trated every  State  from  Maine  to  Missouri,  as  well  as  the 
Canadas,  in  the  short  space  of  nine  years;  organizing  churches 
and  conferences  in  every  region,  and  gathering  in  its  progress 
from  fifty  to  an  hundred  thousand  disciples;  having,  at  the 
same  time,  to  sustain  the  shock  of  an  overwhelming  religious 
influence,  opposed  to  it  by  the  combined  powers  of  every  sect 
in  America. — What  but  the  arm  of  Omnipotence  could  have 
moved  it  forward  amid  the  rage  of  mobs?  Having  to  con- 


8  PREFACE. 

tend  with  the  prejudice  of  the  ignorant  and  the  pen  of  the 

learned;  at  war  with  every  creed  and  craft  in  Christendom; 

while  the  combined  powers  of  earth  and  hell  were  hurling  a 

storm   of  persecution,   unparalleled    in   the   history  of  our 

country. 

This  work  is  also  intended  as  a  warning  voice,  or  procla- 
mation of  truth,  to  all  people  into  whose  hands  it  may  fall, 
that  they  may  understand  and  be  prepared  for  the  great  day 
of  the  Lord.  Opinion  and  guess  work  in  the  things  of  God 
are  worse  than  useless;  facts  well  demonstrated  can  alone  be 
of  service  to  mankind;  and  as  the  Holy  Ghost  can  alone  guide 
us  into  all  truth,  we  pray  God  the  Eternal  Father,  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son,  that  the  Spirit  of  truth  may 
inspire  our  heart  in  inditing  this  matter ;  that  we  may  be 
able  to  write  the  truth  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and 
of  power;  that  it  may  be  the  word  of  God,  the  everlasting 
gospel,  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation,  to  the  Gentile  first, 

and  also  to  the  Jew. 

THE  AUTHOR, 

NAITVOO,  1839. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ON  PROPHECY  ALREADY  FULFILLED. 

"We  have  also  a  more  sure  word  of  prophecy  ;  whereunto  ye  do  well 
to  take  heed,  as  unto  a  light  that  shineth  in  a  dark  place,  until  the  day 
dawn  arid  the  day  star  arise  in  your  hearts ;  knowing  this  first,  that 
no  prophecy  of  the  scripture  is  of  any  private  interpretation.  For  the 
prophecy  came  not  in  old  time  by  the  will  of  man  ;  but  holy  men  of  God 
spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost."  (a). 

In  order  to  prove  any  thing  from  Scripture  it  is  necessary 
to  lay  down  some  certain  rule  of  interpretation,  without  which, 
the  mind  is  in  uncertainty  and  doubt,  ever  learning,  and  never 
able  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth. 

The  neglect  of  such  a  rule,  has  thrown  mankind  into  confu- 
sion and  uncertainty,  in  all  their  Biblical  researches.  Indeed, 
while  mankind  are  left  at  liberty  to  transform,  spiritualize,  or 
give  any  uncertain  or  private  interpretation  to  the  word  of 
Grod,  all  is  uncertainty. 

"Whatsoever  things  were  written  aforetime,  were  written  for  our  learn- 
ing, that  we  through  patience  and  comfort  of  the  scriptures  might  have 
hope."  (£).- 

Now  suppose  a  friend  from  a  distance  should  write  us  a  let- 
ter, making  certain  promises  to  us  on  certain  conditions,  which 
if  we  obtained,  would  be  greatly  to  our  profit  and  advantage; 
of  course  it  might  be  said  the  letter  was  written  for  our  profit 
and  learning,  that  through  patience  and  comfort  of  the  letter 
we  might  have  hope  to  obtain  the  things  promised.  If  we 
clearly  understood  the  letter,  and  knew  what  to  expect,  it 
would  afford  us  comfort  and  hope;  whereas,  if  there  was  any 
doubt  or  uncertainty  on  our  minds  in  the  understanding  of 
the  same,  we  could  derive  no  comfort  or  hope  from  the  things 
written,  not  knowing  what  to  hope  for;  consequently  the  letter 
would  not  profit  us;  and  so  it  is  with  the  Scriptures.  No 

(a)  2  Peter  1 ;  19-21.       (&)  Romans  15 ;  4. 


10  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

prophecy  or  promise  will  profit  the  reader,  or  produce  patience1, 
comfort,  or  hope  in  his  mind,  until  clearly  understood,  that  he 
may  know  precisely  what  to  hope  for.  Now  many  of  predic- 
tions of  the  prophets  can  be  as  clearly  understood  as  the  alma- 
nac when  it  foretells  an  eclipse ;  or  else  the  Bible  of  all  books 
is  of  most  doubtful  usefulness.  Far  better  would  it  have  been 
for  mankind,  if  the  great  Author  of  our  existence  had  reveal- 
ed nothing  to  his  fallen  creatures,  than  to  have  revealed  a  book 
which  would  leave  them  in  doubt  and  uncertainty,  to  contend 
with  one  another  from  age  to  age,  respecting  the  meaning  of 
its  contents.  That  such  uncertainty  and  contention  have  ex- 
isted for  ages,  none  will  deny.  The  wise  and  learned  have 
differed,  and  do  still  widely  differ  from  each  other,  in  the 
understanding  of  prophecy.  Whence  then  this  difference? 
Either  revelation  itself  is  deficient,  or  else  the  fault  is  in  man- 
kind. To  say  that  revelation  is  deficient,  would  be  to  charge 
God  foolishly;  God  forbid,  the^fault  must  be  in  man.  There 
are  two  great  causes  for  this  blindness : — 

Firstly,  mankind  have  supposed  that  direct  inspiration  by 
the  Holy  Ghost  was  not  intended  for  all  ages  of  the  Church, 
but  that  it  was  confined  to  primitive  times;  that  "the  canon 
of  Scripture  is  full;"  that  all  necessary  things  have  been  re- 
vealed, and  that  the  Spirit  which  guides  into  all  truth  is  no 
longer  needed;  therefore  they  sought  to  understand,  by  their 
own  wisdom,  and  by  their  own  learning,  what  could  never  be 
clearly  understood,  except  by  the  Spirit  of  truth:  for  the 
things  of  God  knoweth  no  man,  except  by  the  Spirit  of  God. 

Secondly,  having  lost  the  Spirit  of  inspiration  they  began  to 
institute  their  own  opinions,  traditions,  and  commandments; 
giving  constructions,  and  private  interpretations  to  the  writ- 
ten word,  instead  of  believing  the  things  written.  And  the 
moment  they  departed  from  its  literal  meaning,  one  man's 
opinion  or  interpretation,  was  just  as  good  as  another's,  all  were 
clothed  with  equal  authority,  and  from  thence  arose  all  the 
darkness  and  misunderstanding  on  these  points,  which  have 
agitated  the  world  for  the  last  seventeen  hundred  years. 

,Among  the  variety  of  objects  which  attract  the  attention  of 
mankind,  there  is  one  thing  of  more  value  than  all  others;  a 
principle,  which,  if  once  possessed,  greatly  assists  in  obtaining 
all  other  things  worth  possessing,  whether  it  be  power,  wealth, 
riches,  honors,  thrones,  or  dominions.  Comparatively  few  have 
possessed  it,  although  within  the  reach  of  many  [others,  but 
they  were  either  not  aware  of  it,  or  did  not  know  its  value. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  11 

It  lias  worked  wonders  for  those  who  have  possessed  it.  It 
enabled  some  to  escape  from  drowning,  while  every  soul  who 
did  not  possess  it  was  lost  in  the  mighty  deep.  It  saved  oth- 
ers from  famine,  while  thousands  perished  all  around  them. 
By  it,  men  have  often  been  raised  to  dignity  in  the  State ;  yea, 
more,  some  have  been  raised  to  the  thrones  of  empires.  The 
possession  of  it  has  sometimes  raised  men  from  dungeons  to 
palaces;  and  there  are  instances  in  which  those  that  possessed 
it  were  delivered  from  the  flames,  while  cities  were  consumed, 
and  every  soul,  themselves  excepted,  perished.  Frequently 
when  a  famine,  or  the  sword,  has  destroyed  a  city  or  nation, 
they  alone  who  possessed  it  escaped  unhurt.  By  this  time, 
the  reader  inquires,  What  can  this  thing  be  ?  Inform  me, 
and  I  will  purchase  it,  even  at  the  sacrifice  of  all  I  possess  on 
earth.  Well,  kind  reader,  this  treasure  is  foreknowledge — a 
knowledge  of  things  future.  Let  a  book  be  published,  entitled, 
Knowledge  of  the  Future,  and  let  mankind  be  really  convinced 
that  it  did  give  a  definite  knowledge  of  future  events ;  so  that 
its  pages  unfolded  the  future  history  of  the  nations,  and  of  many 
great  events,  as  the  history  of  Greece  or  Rome  unfolds  the  past, 
a  large  edition  would  immediately  sell  at  a  great  sum  per  copy; 
indeed  it  would  be  above  all  price.  Now,  kind  reader,  the 
books  of  the  prophets  and  the  Spirit  of  prophecy  were  intend- 
ed for  this  very  purpose.  Well  did  the  Apostle  say: — "De- 
sire spiritual  gifts,  but  rather  that  ye  may  prophesy."  (c). 

Let  us  enter  into  the  expanded  field  which  lies  before  us,  and 
search  for  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge,  which  have 
been  shining  for  ages,  like  a  light  in  a  dark  place.  We  will 
explore  regions  unknown  to  many ;  we  will  gaze  upon  the  open* 
ing  glories  which  present  themselves  on  every  side  :  and  feast 
our  souls  with  knowledge  which  is  calculated  in  its  nature  to 
enlarge  the  heart,  to  exalt  the  mind,  and  to  raise  the  affections 
above  the  little,  mean,  grovelling  things  of  the  world,  and 
make  one  wise  unto  salvation. 

First,  let  us  understand  the  rule  of  interpretation.  For  this 
we  will  not  depend  on  any  man,  or  commentary,  for  the  Holy 
Ghost  has  given  it  by  the  mouth  of  Peter,  who  said : — 

"We  have  also  a  more  sure  word  of  prophecy;  whereunto  ye  do  well 
that  ye  take  heed,  as  unto  a  light  that  shineth  in  a  dark  place,  until  the 
day  dawn  and  the  day  star  arise  in  your  hearts  :  knowing  this  first,  that 
no  prophecy  of  the  scripture  is  of  any  private  interpretation."  (d). 

There  is  one  grand  division  to  be  kept  in  view  in  the  study 
of  prophecy;  namely,  the  distinction  between  the  past  and  the 

(c)  1  Cor.  14-1.    (^7)  2  Peter  1:10,  20. 


12  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

future.  The  reader  should  be  careful  to  ascertain  what  por- 
tion has  been  fulfilled,  and  what  remains  to  be  fulfilled;  always 
remembering  that  Peter's  rule  of  interpretation  will  apply  to 
both.  If  we  should  find  in  our  researches  that  every  proph- 
ecy which  has  been  fulfilled  to  this  present  year  has  been 
literally  fulfilled,  it  follows,  of  necessity,  that  every  prophecy 
which  is  yet  future,  will  not  fail  of  a  literal  fulfillment.  Let 
us  commence  with  the  days  of  Noah  : 

"And  behold,  I,  even  I,  do  bring  a  flood  of  waters  upon  the  earth,  to 
destroy  all  flesh,  wherein  is  the  breath  of  life,  from  under  heaven  :  and 
every  thing  that  is  in  the  earth  shall  die."  (e). 

In  the  verses  which  follows  the  above,  the  Lord  commands 
Noah  to  enter  the  ark  and  take  with  him  animals  of  every  kind, 
etc.  In  the  twenty-second  verse  it  is  written : — "Thus  did  Noah, 
according  to  all  that  God  commanded  him,  so  did  he."  (/). 

It  was  well  for  Noah  that  he  was  not  well  versed  in  the  spirit- 
ualizing systems  of  modern  divinity;  for  under  their  benight- 
ed influence,  he  would  never  have  believed  that  so  marvelous 
a  prophecy  would  have  had  a  literal  meaning  and  fulfillment. 
No,  he  would  have  been  told  that  the  flood  meant  a  spiritual 
flood,  and  the  ark  a  spiritual  ark,  and  the  moment  he  thought 
otherwise,  he  would  have  been  set  down  as  a  fanatic,  knave, 
or  fool;  but  it  was  so,  that  he  believed  the  prophecy  literally. 
Here  then  is  a  fair  sample  of  foreknowledge ;  for  all  the  world 
who  did  not  possess  it  perished  by  the  flood.  The  next  pre- 
diction that  we  notice  is, 

"And  he  [God]  said  unto  Abram,  Know  of  a  surety  that  thy  seed  shall 
be  a  stranger  in  a  land  that  is  not  theirs,  and  shall  serve  them  ;  and  they 
shall  afflict  them  four  hundred  years  ;  and  also  that  nation  whom  they 
shall  serve,  will  I  judge  :  and  afterward  shall  they  come  out  with  great 
substance.  And  thou  shalt  go  to  thy  fathers  in  peace  ;  and  shall  be 
buried  in  a  good  old  age.  But  in  the  fourth  generation  they  shall  come 
hither  again  :  for  the  iniquity  of  the  Amorites  is  not  yet  full."  (g). 

The  evil  entreating  of  the  children  of  Israel,  four  hundred 
years,  together  with  their  coming  out  with  great  substance, 
and  the  judgments  of  Grod  upon  Egypt,  as  well  as  the  death  of 
Abraham  in  a  good  old  age,  are  all  facts  too  well  known  to 
need  comment  here;  suffice  it  to  say,  that  it  is  a  striking  ex- 
ample of  the  exact  fulfillment  of  prophecy,  uttered  more  than 
four  hundred  years  before  it  had  its  accomplishment.  From 
this  we  gather  that  none  of  those  ancient  men  knew  anything 
of  the  modern  system  of  spiritualizing.  We  quote  as  fol- 
lows : — 

"And  the  men  said  unto  Lot,  Hast  thou  here  any  besides?  Son-in-law 
(e)  Gen,  6  ;17.  (/)  Gen.  C  ;  22.  (g*)  Gen.  15 : 13-16.  ' 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  13 

and  thy  sons,  and  thy  daughters,  and  whatsoever  thou  hast  in  the  city, 
bring  them  out  of  this  place  ;  for  we  will  destroy  this  place,  because  the 
cry  of  them  is  waxen  great  before  the  face  of  the  Lord  ;  and  the  Lord 
hath  sent  us  to  destroy  it."  (h) 

Now  Lot  believed  the  thing  in  its  literal  sense,  and  took  as 
many  of  his  family  as  would  go  with  him,  and  escaped  for  his 
life,  to  the  great  amusement,  no  doubt,  of  the  Sodomites,  who 
probably  stood  gazing  after  him,  crying  delusion,  delusion; 
they  thinking  all  the  while  that  the  prophecy  was  only  a  figure. 
Here  is  an  example  of  a  man  escaping  from  the  flames  by 
foreknowledge  imparted  to  him,  while  the  whole  city  perished. 
0  what  a  blessing  that  Lot  had  no  knowledge  of  the  modern 
manner  of  interpreting  prophecy!  If  it  had  once  entered  his 
heart  that  he  must  come  out  of  Sodom  spiritually,  instead  of 
literally,  it  would  have  cost  him  his  life. 

Let  us  examine  a  prophecy  of  Joseph  in  the  land  of  Egypt : — 

"Behold,  there  come  seven  years  of  great  plenty  throughout  all  the 
land  of  Egypt :  and  there  shall  arise  after  them  seven  years  of  famine  ; 
and  all  the  plenty  shall  be  forgotten  in  the  land  of  Egypt ;  and  the  famine 
shall  consume  the  land ;  and  the  plenty  shall  not  be  known  in  the  land 
by  reason  of  that  famine  following  :  for  it  shall  be  very  grievous."  (i) 

Joseph  then  gave  directions  for  corn  to  be  laid  up  in  great 
abundance  during  the  seven  plenteous  years,  in  order  to  pro- 
vide against  famine.  And  Pharaoh,  being  no  better  versed  in 
the  school  of  modern  divinity  than  his  predecessors,  never  once 
thought  of  any  other  interpretation  than  the  most  literal; 
and  thus  he  was  the  means,  together  with  Joseph,  in  the 
hand  of  Gcd;  in  saving,  not  only  their  nation,  but  the  house 
of  Israel  from  famine.  This  is  another  striking  example  of 
the  power  of  foreknowledge.  It  not  only  saved  from  famine, 
but  it  exalted  Joseph  from  a  dungeon  to  a  palace;  from  the 
lowest  degradation  to  the  highest  honor;  so  that  they  cried  be- 
fore him,  "Bow  the  knee."  But  oh,  what  mourning  and  death 
would  have  followed,  had  they  dreamed  only  of  spiritual  fam- 
ine and  spiritual  corn. 

Having  given  a  few  examples  of  early  ages,  we  will  present 
some  of  the  most  remarkable  instances  of  prophecy,  and  its 
fulfillment,  until  we  come  down  to  the  Jewish  prophets,  where 
the  field  opens  wide  in  reference  to  the  most  remarkable 
events  of  various  ages,  and  terminating  in  a  full  development 
of  the  opening  glories  of  the  last  days. 

In  Joshua  there  is  a  wonderful  prediction  concerning  Jeri- 
cho : — • 

"Cursed  be  the  man  before  the  Lord,  that  riseth  up  and  buildeth  this 
(70  Gen,  12 : 13.    (?)  Gen,  41 ;  29-31 . 


14  VOICB  OF  WARNING. 

city  Jericho  :  lie  shall  lay  the 'foundation  thereof  in  his  first-born,  and  in 
his  youngest  son  shall  he  set  up  the  gates  of  ik"(j) 

After  this  curse,  the  city  of  Jericho  lay  waste  for  ages ; 
none  caring  to  rebuild  it  at  the  expense  of  their  first-born,  and 
of  their  youngest  son,  until  after  a  long  succession  of  judges 
and  kings,  when  hundreds  of  years  had  passed,  Hiel  the 
Bethelite,  who  lived  in  the  days  of  Ahab,  probably  supposed 
that  the  Lord  had  forgotten  the  curse  pronounced  upon  it  by 
Joshua,  ventured  to  rebuild  the  city;  but  as  soon  as  he  had 
laid  the  foundation  thereof,  Abiram,  his  first-born,  died;  but 
still  persevering  in  the  hardness  of  his  heart,  he  set  up  the 
gates  thereof  with  the  loss  of  his  youngest  son,  Segub,  accord- 
ing to  the  word  of  the  Lord,  by  Joshua.  (7c). 

Elijah  the  prophet  prophesied  to  Ahab  that  it  should  not 
rain  for  three  years  and  upwards,  which  came  to  pass  accord- 
ing to  his  word. 

It  is  related  of  Hazael,  the  Syrian,  who  carne  to  Elisha  to 
inquire  of  the  Lord  concerning  the  king  of  Syria,  his  master, 
who  was  sick,  that  the  prophet  earnestly  beholding  him,  burst 
into  tears :  and  Hazael  asked  him  saying,  " Why  weepest  thou  ?" 
He  then  proceeded  to  unfold  unto  him  the  cruelties  he  would 
exercise  towards  Israel,  which  are  too  horrible  to  mention  here, 
lest  in  so  doing  I  might  oifend  the  delicate  ear.  Hazael,  as- 
tonished to  hear  these  things  predicted  concerning  himself, 
which  at  that  time  filled  him  with  horror,  exclaimed  with  sur- 
prise, "But  what!  is  thy  servent  a  dog,  that  he  should  do  this 
great  thing?"  And  he  said,  "The  Lord  hath  shewed  me  that 
thou  shalt  be  king  over  Svria."  It  was  all  afterwards  min- 
utely fulfilled. 

In  the  Second  Chronicles,  twenty-first  chapter,  it  is  written 
that  there  came  a  writing  to  Jehoram,  from  Elijah,  which, 
after  stating  the  great  wickedness  of  which  he  had  been  guilty, 
in  turning  to  idolatry  and  also  murdering  his  brethren  of  his 
father's  house,  who  were  better  than  himself,  proceeds  thus: 

"Behold,  with  a  great  plague  will  the  Lord  smite  thy  people,  and  thy 
children,  and  thy  wives,  and  all  thy  goods  :  and  thou  shalt  have  great 
sickness  by  disease  of  thy  bowels,  until  thy  bowels  fall  out  by  reason  of 
thy  sickness  day  by  day."  (I) 

In  the  same  chapter  it  is  written  that  the  Philistines  and 
Arabians  came  against  him,  and  took  his  wives  and  children, 
and  goods  captive;  and  after  all  this,  the  Lord  smote  him  in 
his  bowels  with  an  incurable  disease,  and  his  bowels  fell  out 
by  reason  of  his  sickness,  so  he  died  of  sore  disease. 

<j)  Joshua  G :  26,    (fr)  Seo  1  Kings  1C :  34.    (0  2  Cbron,  21 ;  15, 10, 


VOICE  OP  WARNING.  I 

We  might  fill  a  volume  with  instances  of  a  similar  kind, 
dispersed  through  the  historical  part  of  the  Scriptures;  but 
we  forbear  in  order  to  hasten  to  a  fuller  examination  of  the 
books  of  the  Jewish  prophets.  We  shall  trace  them  in  their 
fulfillment  upon  Jerusalem,  Babylon.  Tyre,  Egypt,  and  nu- 
merous other  nations." 

Babylon,  the  most  ancient  and  renowned  city  of  the  world, 
was  pleasantly  situated  on  the  banks  of  a  majestic  river  that 
flowed  through  the  plains  of  Shinar,  near  where  the  tower  of 
Babel  once  stood.  It  was  laid  out  four  square,  and  surrounded 
with  a  wall  upwards  of  three  hundred  feet  high,  and  sixty 
miles  in  ^circumference ;  having  an  hundred  gates  of  brass, 
with  bars  of  iron :  twenty-five  gates  on  each  side,  which  opened 
to  streets  "running  through  the  city,  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles; 
thus^forming  the  whole  city  into  exact  squares  of  equal  size. 
In  the  midst  of  these^squares  were  beautiful  gardens  adorned 
with  trees  and  walks,  and  diversified  with  flowers  of  varied 
hue;  while  the  houses  were  built  upon  the  borders  of  the 
squares  directly  fronting  on  the  streets.  In  the  midst  of  this 
city  sat  Nebuchadnezzar,  enthroned  in  royal  splendor  and  mag- 
nificence, and  swaying  his  sceptre  over  all  the  kingdoms  of  the 
world;  when  it  pleased  God  in  a  vision  of  the  night  to  raise 
the  dark  curtain  of  the]  future,  and  to  present  before  him  at 
one  view  the  history  of  the  world,  even  down  to  the  consum- 
mation of  all  things.  Behold  a  great  image  stood  before  him, 
whose  head  was  of  fine  gold,  his  breast  and  arms  of  silver;  his 
belly  and  thighs  of  brass,  his  legs  of  iron,  his  feet  and  toes 
part  of  iron  andjpart  of  clay.  He  beheld,  till  a  stone  was  cut 
out  without  hands,  which  smote  the  image  upon  the  feet, 
which  were  part  of  iron  and  part  of  clay,  and  brake  them  in 
pieces;  then  was  the  iron,  the  brass,  the'  silver  and  the  gold, 
broken  in  pieces  together,  and  became  as  the  chaff  of  the 
summer  threshing  floor,  and  the  wind  carried  them  away,  and 
there  was  no  place  found  for  them ;  but  the  stone  which  smote 
the  image  became  a  great  mountain,  and  filled  the  whole  earth, 
(m).  When  Daniel  was  brought  before  the  king,  to  tell  the 
dream  and  the  interpretation,  he  exclaimed : 

"There  is  a  Grod  in  heaven  that  revealeth  secrets,  and  maketh  known 
to  the  king  Nebuchadnezzar,  what  shall  be  in  the  latter  days.11  (n). 

After  telling  the  dream,  Daniel  said : 

"Thou,  0  king  art  a  king  of  kings :  for  the  God  of  heaven  hath  given  thec 
a  kingdom,  power,  and  strength  and  glory.  And  wheresoever  the  children 
of  men  dwell,  the  beasts  of  the  field  and  the  fowls  of  heaven  hath  he  given 
(m)  See  Daniel  2 :  31-35.    (M)  Daniel  2 : 28. 


16  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

into  thine  luind,  and  liatli  made  thee  ruler  over  them  all.  Thou  art  this 
head  of  gold.  And  after  thee  shall  arise  another  kingdom  inferior  to  thee, 
and  anotherjthird  kingdom  of  brass,  which  shall  bear  rule  over  all  the 
earth.  And  the  fourth  kingdom  shall  be  strong  as  iron  :  forasmuch  as 
iron  brealteth  in  pieces  and  subdueth  all  things  :  and  as  iron  that  break  - 
eth  all  these,  shall  it  break  in  pieces  and  bruise.  And  whereas  thou 
sawest  the  feet  and  toes,  part  of  potter's  clay,  and  part  of  iron,  the  king- 
dom shall  be  divided  ;  but  there  shall  be  in  it  the  strength  of  the  iron, 
forasmuch  as  thou  sawest  the  iron  mixed  with  miry  clay.  And  as^the 
toes  of  the  feet  were  part  of  iron,  and  part  of  clay,  so  the  kingdom  shall 
be  partly  strong,  and  partly  broken.  And  whereas  thou  sawest  iron 
mixed  with  miry  clay,  they  shall  mingle  themselves  with  the  seed  of  men]; 
but  they  shall  not  cleave  one  to  another,  even  as  iron  is  not  mixed  with 
clay.  And  in  the  days  of  these  kings  shall  the  God  of  heaven  set  up  a 
kingdom,  which  shall  never  be  destroyed  :  and  the  kingdom  shall  not  be 
left  to  other  people,  but  it  shall  break  in  pieces  and  consume  all  these 
kingdoms,  and  it  shall  stand  forever.  Forasmuch  as  thou  sawest  that  the 
stone  was  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands,  and  that  jt  break  in 
pieces  the  iron,  the  brass,  the  clay,  the  silver,  and  the  gold ;  the  great 
God  hath  made  known  to  the  king  what  shall  come  to  pass  hereafter  : 
and  the  dream  is  certain,  and  the  interpretation  thereof  sure."  (o). 

In  this  great  view  of  the  subject,  we  have  presented  before 
us  in  succession:  first,  the  kingdom  of  Nebuchadnezzar;  sec- 
ond, the  Medes  and  Persians,  who  took  Babylon  from  Bel- 
shazzar,  and  reigned  over  all  the  earth;  third,  the  Greeks 
under  Alexander,  who  conquered  the  world,  and  reigned  in 
the  midst  of  Babylon;  fourth,  the  Roman  Empire,  which  sub- 
dued all  things;  fifth,  its  division  into  Eastern  and  Western 
empires,  and  its  final  Breaking  or  subdivision  into  the  various 
kingdoms  of  modern  Europe,  represented  by  the  feet  and  toes, 
part  of  iron  and  part  of  clay;  and  lastly,  we  have  presented 
before  us  an  entire  new  kingdom,  organized  by  the  God  of 
heaven  in  the  last  days,  or  during  the  reign  of  these  kings, 
represented  by  the  feet  and  toes.  This  last  kingdom  is  nev- 
er to  change  masters,  like  all  the  kingdoms  which  have  gone 
before  it.  It  is  never  to  be  left  to  other  people.  It  is  to 
break  in  pieces  all  these  kingdoms,  and  stand  forever.  Many 
suppose  that  this  lasc  kingdom  alluded  to,  was  the  kingdom  of 
God  which  was  organized  in  the  days  of  Christ  or  his  apos- 
tles, but  it  is  a  very  erroneous  idea,  for  the  kingdom  of  God 
set  up  in  the  days  of  Christ  or  his  apostles,  did  not  break  in 
pieces  any  of  the  kingdoms  of  the  world ;  it  was  itself  warred 
against  and  overcome,  in  fulfillment  of  these  words  of  Daniel : 

"I  beheld,  and  the  same  horn  made  war  with  the  Saints,  and  prevailed 
against  them;  until  the  Ancient  of  days  came,  and  judgment  was  given 
to  the  Saints  of  the  Most  High  ;  and  the  time  came  that  the  Saints  pos- 
sessed the  kingdom  ;  *  *  *  and  the  kingdom  and  dominion,  and  the 
(o-)  Pan.  2:37-45. 


VOICE  OF  WARDING.  11 

greatness  of  tlio  kingdom  under  the  whole  heaven  shall  bo  given  to  the 
people  of  the  Saints  of  the  Most  High,  whose  kingdom  is  an  everlasting 
kingdom,  and  all  dominions  shall  serve  and  obey  him."  (p) 

John  said : — 

"And  it  was  given  unto  him  to  make  war  with  the  Saints,  and  to  over- 
come them  :  and  power  was  given  him  over  all  kindreds,  and  tongties, 
and  nations."  (q) 

In  fulfillment  of  these  sayings,  power  has  been  given  to  the 
authorities  of  the  earth,  to  kill  the  apostles  and  inspired  men ; 
until  if  any  remained  they  were  banished  from  among  men, 
or  forced  to  retire  to  the  desolate  islands,  or  the  dens  and 
caves  and  mountains  of  the  earth :  being  men  of  whom  the 
world  was  not  worthy;  while  at  the  same  time,  many  false 
prophets  and  teachers  were  introduced  in  their  place,  whom 
men  heaped  to  themselves,  because  they  would  not  endure 
sound  doctrine.  In  this  way  the  kingdom  of  God  became 
disorganized  and  lost  from  among  men,  and  the  doctrines  and 
churches  of  men  instituted  in  its  place.  But  we  design  to 
write  more  fully  on  the  subject  of  the  kingdom  of  God. 
Suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  kingdom  spoken  of  by  Daniel,  is 
something  to  be  organized  in  the  last  days  by  the  God  of 
heaven  himself,  without  the  aid  of  human  institutions,  or  the 
precepts  of  men,  and  when  organized  it  will  never  cease  to 
roll;  all  the  powers  of  earth  and  hell  will  not  impede  its  pro- 
gress, until  at  length  the  Ancient  of  days  shall  sit,  and  the 
Lord  Jesus  will  come  in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  with  power  and 
great  glory,  as  the  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords,  and  de- 
stroy all  these  kingdoms,  and  give  the  kingdom  and  the  great- 
ness of  the  kingdom,  under  the  whole  heaven  to  the  Saints. 
Then  there  will  be  but  one  Lord,  and  his  name  one,  and  He 
shall  be  king  over  all  the  earth. 

We  will  now  return  to  Nebuchadnezzar,  whom  the  Lord, 
by  the  mouth  of  Jeremiah,  calls  "his  servant,  to  execute  his 
judgments  upon  the  nations."  It  seems  that  the  Lord  exalted 
this  great  man,  and  made  him  a  king  of  kings,  and  lord  of 
lords,  arming  him  with  his  own  sword,  and  clothing  him  with 
power  and  authority,  for  the  express  purpose  of  executing  his 
judgments,  and  scourging  and  humbling  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth.  Jeremiah,  in  his  twenty-fifth  chapter  says,  that  the 
Lord  proposed  to  bring  Nebuchadnezzar  and  his  army  against 
Jerusalem,  and  against  all  the  nations  round  about,  that  He 
might  bring  them  to  desolation  and  captivity  for  seventy  years; 
and  after  seventy  years,  He  would  turn  and  punish  the  king 

(X)  Dan.  7 :  21,  22,  27,    (?)  Key.  13:7. 


18  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

of  Babylon,  and  that  nation  for  their  iniquity.  Now,  who 
can  trace  the  history  of  the  fulfillment  of  these  great  events, 
so  exactly  pointed  out  by  Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  and  Ezekiel,  and 
not  be  struck  with  astonishment  and  wonder,  at  the  marvelous 
gift  of  prophecy  enabling  men  in  those  days  to  read  the  his- 
tory of  the  future,  as  they  read  the  history  of  the  past.  In- 
deed, the  reader  of  history  in  the  nineteenth  century,  holding 
in  his  hand  the  history  of  the  Babylonians,  Medes  and  Per- 
sians, G-reeks,  Romans  and  Egyptians,  together  with  that  of 
the  Jews,  will  hardly  render  himself  more  familiar  with  the 
events  which  transpired  among  those  nations,  than  the  pro- 
phets were  many  years  previous  to  their  accomplishment. 

The  Jews  were  reduced  to  subjection  by  Nebuchadnezzar, 
Jerusalem  was  burned,  together  with  their  temple;  their 
princes,  nobles,  and  people  were  carried  to  Babylon,  together 
with  all  their  holy  things.  All  the  particulars  of  this  de- 
struction and  captivity  were  distinctly  foretold  by  Jeremiah, 
and  the  time  of  its  continuence,  viz:  seventy  years.  After 
subduing  the  Jews,  the  king  of  Babylon  marched  his  army 
against  Tyre,  the  city  of  merchants,  situated  at  the  haven  of 
the  sea,  surrounded  not  only  by  the  sea,  but  with  a  strong 
wall.  So  strong  a  hold  required  the  utmost  skill  and  perse- 
verance of  Nebuchadnezzar  and  his  whole  army,  who  labored 
incessantly  for  a  long  time,  and  at  last  they  succeeded  in  tak- 
ing Tyre  and  bringing  it  into  captivity  seventy  years;  after 
which  they  returned  and  established  their  city,  for  Jeremiah 
had  previously  foretold  the  reduction  of  Tyre;  its  captivity  of 
seventy  years,  and  its  restoration  at  the  expiration  of  that 
time.  After  the  restoration  of  Tyre,  the  city  flourished  for  a 
time,  but  was  afterwards  reduced  to  an  entire  desolation.  Its 
ruined  fragments  are  seen  to  this  day  in  the  bottom  of  the 
sea;  its  site  has  become  a  barren  rock,  only  occupied  by  poor 
fishermen.  All  this  desolation  and  even  its  present  appearance 
and  desolate  and  perpetual  waste,  were  clearly  pointed  out  by 
the  prophets. 

But  when  the  king  of  Babylon  had  succeeded  in  taking 
Tyre;  after  many  a  bald  head  and  peeled  shoulder,  caused  by 
the  hard  service  of  his  army  in  the  siege;  the  Lord,  by  the 
mouth  of  Ezekiel,  promised  to  give  the  spoils  of  Egypt  unto 
him,  for  wages  for  his  army,  in  order  to  pay  him  for  the  great 
service,  wherewith  he  had  served  God  against  Tyre.  Next, 
witness  his  war  in  the  conquest  of  Egypt,  and  bringing  it  into 
captivity. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  19 

And  finally  trace  him,  executing  tlie  Lord's  vengeance  and 
anger  against  Uz,  upon  the  kings  of  the  Philistines,  and  As- 
kelon,  Azaiah,  and  Ekron,  Edom,  Moab,  Animon,  and  Dedan, 
Terns,  and  Buz,  and  the  kings  of  Arabia,  and  of  Zimri,  and  of 
Elam,  and  of  all  the  kings  of  the  Medes,  and  all  the  kings  of 
the  north  far  and  near;  and  finally  upon  all  the  kingdoms  of 
the  world,  who  were  to  be  drunken,  and  spew,  and  fall  to  rise 
no  more,  because  of  the  sword  which  he  would  send  among 
them.  But,  when  the  Lord  had  accomplished  all  his  mind  on 
these  nations,  he  purposed  in  turn,  to  punish  this  great  mon- 
arch, and  those  who  succeeded  him,  and  the  city  and  nation 
over  which  he  reigned,  and  finally  to  make  it  perpetual  deso- 
lations, and  all  this  in  consequence  of  their  pride  and 
haughtiness. 

In  order  to  trace  the  events  of  the  deliverance  of  the  Jews 
from  their  seventy  years'  captivity  and  bondage,  and  the  pun- 
ishment of  Babylon,  another  and  very  different  character  from 
that  of  Nebuchadnezzar  is  introduced  by  the  prophets :  one 
who  is  in  scripture,  termed  the  Lord's  Anointed.  He  may  be 
considered  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  characters  that  the 
heathen  world  ever  produced.  His  mildness,  his  courage,  his 
perseverance,  his  wonderful  and  speedy  success,  and  above  all, 
his  strict  obedience  to  the  commandments  of  that  God,  which 
neither  he  nor  his  fathers  had  known ;  all  go  to  prove  that 
Isaiah  was  not  mistaken,  when  he  called  him  by  name,  as  the 
Lord's  Anointed  to  deliver  the  nations  from  bondage,  to 
scourge  and  subdue  the  greatest  city  and  monarchy  that  has 
at  any  time  existed  on  the  earth;  and  to  restore  the  Jews,  and 
rebuild  their  city  and  ^temple.  Indeed,  he  was  one  of  those 
few,  which  the  world  never  produces  except  for  extraordinary 
purposes.  But  let  us  hear  the  prophet's  own  description  of 
him: 

"Tims  saith  the  Lord  to  his  anointed,  to  Cyrus,  whose  right  hand  I 
have  holden  to  subdue  nations  before  him  ;  and  I  will  loose  the  loins  of 
kings,  to  open  before  him  the  two-leaved  gates,  and  the  gates  shall  no  be 
shut ;  I  will  go  before  thee,  and  make  the  crooked  places  straight :  I 
will  break  in  pieces  the  gates  of  brass,  and  cut  in  sunder  the  bars  of  iron  : 
and  I  will  give  thee  the  treasures  of  darkness,  and  hidden  riches  of  secret 
places,  that  thou  mayest  know  that  I,  the  Lord,  which  call  thee  by  name, 
am  the  God  of  Israel.  For  Jacob,  my  servant's  sake,  and  Israel  mine 
elect,  I  have  even  called  thee  by  thy  name  :  I  have  surnamed  thee, 
though  thou  hast  not  known  me.  I  am  the  Lord,  and  there  is  none  else, 
there  is  no  God  besides  me  :  I  girded  thee,  though  thou  hast  not  known 
me  :  that  they  may  know  from  the  rising  of  the  sun,  and  from  the  west, 
that  there  is  none  besides  me.  I  am  the  Lord  and  there  is  none  else."  (/•) 

(r)  Isa,45;l-0. 


20  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

In  the  thirteenth  verse,  the  Lord  says  concerning  Cyrus  i 

"I  have  raised  him  up  in  righteousness,  and  I  will  direct  all  his  ways  : 
he  shall  build  my  city  and  he  shall  let  go  my  captives,  not  for  price  or 
reward,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts." 

The  reader  will  bear  in  inind,  that  Isaiah  lived  one  hundred 
years  before  the  Jewish  captivity,  and  one  hundred  and 
seventy  years  before  Cyrus  caused  their  return. 

What  power,  but  the  power  of  God,  would  enable  one  man 
to  call  another  by  name,  a  century  before  his  birth,  and  also 
to  foretell  so  minutely  the  great  and  peculiar  events  of  his  life  ? 
What  must  have  been  his  wonder  and  astonishment,  when  af- 
ter many  years  of  wars  and  commotions,  during  which  he 
marched  forth  conquering  and  to  conquer,  gathering  as  a  nest 
the  riches  of  the  nations,  and  encamping  near  the  walls  of  the 
strongest  hold  in  all  the  earth  ?  He  gazed  upon  its  walls  of 
upwards  of  three  hundred  feet  in  height,  with  its  gates  of 
brass  and  bars  of  iron :  the  people  within  feeling  perfectly  safe, 
with  provisions  enough  to  last  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  for 
several  years.  But  turning  the  river  Euphrates  from  its 
course,  and  marching  under  the  walls  of  the  city,  in  the.  dry 
bed  of  the  river,  he  found  himself  in  possession  of  the  city 
without  any  difficulty,  for  Belshazzar,  the  king,  was  drinking 
himself  drunk  with  his  nobles  and  concubines,  and  that  too 
from  the  vessels  of  the  house  of  the  Lord  which  his  father  had 
taken  from  Jerusalem,  and  his  knees  had  already  smitten  to- 
gether with  horror,  from  the  hand-writing  on  the  wall,  which 
Daniel  had  just  been  called  in  to  interpret,  giving  his  king- 
dom to  the  Medes  and  Persians.  Having  subdued  this  great 
monarchy,  he  seated  himself  upon  the  throne  of  kingdoms; 
and  becoming  familiar  with  Daniel,  he  was  probably  introduced 
to  an  acquaintance  with  the  Jewish  records,  whereby  the 
mystery  would  be  unfolded.  He  could  then  see  that  God  had 
called  him  by  name,  that  the  Almighty  hand  had  directed  all 
his  work.  He  could  then  understand  why  the  treasures  of 
the  earth  poured  themselves  into  his  bosom,  and  why  the  loins 
of  the  kings  had  been  unloosed  before  him,  and  why  the  gates 
of  brass  had  been  opened,  and  the  bars  of  iron  burst  asunder. 
It  was  that  he  might  know  that  there  was  a  God  in  Israel, 
and  none  else;  and  that  all  idols  were  as  nothing;  that  he 
might  also  restore  the  Jews,  and  rebuild  their  city  and  temple, 
and  fulfill  God's  purposes  upon  Babylon.  He  accordingly  is- 
sued his  proclamation  to  the  Jews  to  return,  and  for  the 
nations  to  assist  them  in  rebuilding,  for,  said  he,  God  hath 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  21 

commanded  me  to  build  him  an  house  at  Jerusalem.     Ezra 
said: 

"Thus  saitli  Cyrus  king  of  Persia,  The  Lord  God  of  heaven  hath  given 
me  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  ;  and  he  hath  charged  me  to  build  him 
an  house  at  Jerusalem,  which  is  in  Judah.  Who  is  there  among  all  this 
people?  his  G-od  be  with  him,  and  let  him  go  up  to  Jerusalem,  which  is 
In  Judah,  and  build  the  house  of  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  (he  is  the  God), 
which  is  in  Jerusalem."  (s) 

What  powerful  argument,  what  mighty  influence  was  it, 
which  caused  Cyrus  to  be  convinced  that  it  was  the  God  of 
heaven,  (who  dwelt  in  Jerusalem,  who  alone  was  God),  who 
had  done  all  these  things?  He  had  not  been  traditioned  in 
the  belief  of  the  true  God,  nor  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Nay, 
he  had  ever  been  zealous  in  the  worship  of  idols;  ifc  was  to 
idols^he  looked  for  assistance  in  the  former  part  of  his  life. 
I  reply,  it  was  the  power  of  God,  made  manifest  by  prophecy 
and  its  fulfillment;  not  in  a  spiritualized  sense,  not  in  some 
obscu*re,  uncertain,  or  dark  mysterious  way,  which  was  difficult 
to  be  understood;  but  in  positive,  literal,  plain  demonstrations, 
which  none  could  gainsay  or  resist. — Isaiah  said  that  this  was 
the  object  the  Lord  had  in  view,  when  he  revealed  such  plain- 
ness. And  Cyrus  manifested  that  it  had  the  desired  effect. 
When  we  come  to  treat  of  that  part  of  prophecy  which  yet 
remains  to  be  fulfilled,  we  shall  bring  positive  proof  that  the 
heathen  nations  of  the  latter  days,  are  to  be  convinced  in  the 
same  way  that  Cyrus  was;  that  is,  there  are  certain  events 
plainly  predicted  in  unfulfilled  prophecies,  which  when  ful- 
filled, will  convince  all  the  heathen  nations  of  the  true  God, 
and  they  shall  know  that  he  hath  spoken  and  performed  it. 
And  all  the  great  and  learned  men  of  Christendom,  and  all 
societies,  who  have  put  any  other  than  a  literal  construction 
upon  the  word  of  prophecy,  shall  stand  confounded,  and  be 
constrained  to  acknowledge  that  all  has  come  to  pass,  even  as 
it  is  written.  ,. 

But  to  return  to  our  research  of  prophecy  arid  its  fulfillment. 
The  prophets  haTl  not  only  predicted  the  reduction  of  Babylon 
by  Cyrus,  but  they  had  foretold  its  fate  through  all  ages,  until 
reduced  to  entire  desolation,  never  to  be  inhabited,  not  even 
as  a  temporary  residence  for  the  wandering  Arab,  "neither 
shall  the  Arabian  pitch  his  tent  there."  (f) 

Mr.  Joseph  Wolfe,  the  celebrated  Jewish  Missionary,  while 
traveling  in  Chaldea,  enquired  of  the  Arabs  whether  they 
pitched  their  tents  among  the  ruins  of  Babylon,  to  which  they 

(x)  Ezra  1 ;  2,  3.     (0  Sec  Isa.  13 :  20-22, 


22  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

replied  in  the  negative,  declaring  their  fears  that  should  they 
do  so,  Nimrod's  ghost  would  haunt  them.  Thus  all  the  pre- 
dictions of  the  prophets  concerning  that  mighty  city  have 
been  fulfilled.  Edom,  also,  presents  a  striking  fulfillment  of 
plain  and  pointed  predictions  of  the  prophets.  These  predic- 
tions were  pronounced  upon  Edom  at  a  time  when  its  soil  was 
very  productive  and  well  cultivated ;  and  every  where  abound- 
ing in  flourishing  towns  and  cities.  But  now  its  cities  have 
become  heaps  of  desolate  ruins,  only  inhabited  by  the  cormor- 
ant, bittern,  and  by  wild  beasts,  serpents,  etc.,  and  its  soil  has 
become  barren }  the  Lord  has  cast  upon  it  the  line  of  confu- 
sion, and  the  stones  of  emptiness,  and  it  has  been  waste  from 
generation  to  generation,  in  express  fulfillment  of  the  word  of 
prophecy. 

We  now  notice  the  vision  of  Daniel,  concerning  the  ram  and 
the  goat,  in  the  eighth  chapter  of  Daniel.  The  reader  will  do 
well  to  read  the  whole  chapter,  but  we  more  particularly  .notice 
the  interpretation,  as  it  was  given  him  by  Gabriel,  as  recorded 
from  the  nineteenth  to  the  twenty-fifth  verses. 

"And  lie  said,  Behold,  I  will  make  thoo  know  what  shall  be  in  the  last 
end  of  the  indignation  :  for  at  the  time  appointed  the  end  shall  be.  The 
ram  which  thou  sawcst  having  two  horns  are  the  kings  of  Media  and 
Persia.  And  the  rough  goat  is  the  king  of  Grecia  :  and  the  great  horn 
that  is  between  his  eyes  is  the  first  king.  Now  that  being  broken,  whereas 
four  stood  up  for  it,  four  kingdoms  shall  stand  up  out  of  the  nation,  but 
not  in  his  power.  And  in  the  latter  time  of  their  kingdom,  when  the 
transgressors  are  come  to  the  full,  a  king  of  fierce  countenance,  and  un- 
derstanding dark  sentences  shall  stand  up.  And  his  power  shall  be  mighty, 
but  not  by  his  own  power  :  and  he  shall  destroy  wonderfully,  and  shall 
prosper,  and  practice,  and  shall  destroy  the  mighty  and  the  holy  people. 
And  through  his  policy  also  he  shall  cause  craft  to  prosper  in  his  hand  : 
and  he  shall  magnify  himself  in  his  heart,  and  by  peace  shall  destroy  many  : 
he  shall  also  stand  up  against  the  Prince  of  princes  ;  but  he  shall  be  broken 
without  hand."  ( u ) 

In  this  vision,  we  have  first  presented  the  Medes  and  Persians, 
as  theywere  to  exist,  until  they  were  conquered  by  Alexander 
the  Great.  Now  it  is  known  that  this  empire  waxed  exceed- 
ingly great  for  some  time  after  the  death  of  Daniel,  pushing- 
its  conquests  westward,  northward  and  southward,  so  that  none 
could  stand  before  it;  until  Alexander,  the  king  of  Grecia, 
came  from  the  west,  with  a  small  army  of  chosen  men,  and 
attacked  the  Persians  upon  the  bank  of  the  river,  plunging 
his  horse  in,  and  his  army  following,  they  crossed  and  attacked 
the  Persians,  who  stood  to  oppose  them  on  the  bank,  with  many 
times  their  number;  but  notwithstanding  their  number,  and 

00  Ban.  8 ;  19-25. 


VOICE  OF  WARXIXG.  23 

their  advantage  of  the  ground,  they  were  totally  routed ;  and 
the  Grecians  proceeded  to  overrun,  and  subdue  the  country, 
beating  the  Persians  in  a  number  of  pitched  battles,  until  they 
were  entirely  subdued.  It  is  also  known  that  Alexander, 
king  of  Greece,  went  forth  from  nation  to  nation,  subduing 
the  world  before  him,  until  having  conquered  the  world,  he 
died  at  Babylon,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years.  And  thus 
when  he  had  waxed  strong,  the  great  horn  was  broken,  and 
for  it  came  up  four  notable  ones  toward  the  four  winds  of 
heaven.  His  kingdom  was  divided  among  four  of  his  generals, 
who  never  attained  unto  his  power.  In  the  latter  time  of 
their  kingdom,  when  the  transgression  of  the  Jewish  nation 
was  come  to  the  full,  the  Roman  power  destroyed  the  Jewish 
nation,  took  Jerusalem,  caused  the  daily  sacrifice  to  cease; 
and  afterwards  destroyed  the  mighty  and  holy  people,  that  is, 
the  apostles  and  primitive  Christians,  who  were  slain  by  the 
authorities  of  Rome. 

Now  let  me  inquire;  does  the  history  of  these  United  States 
give  a  plainer  account  of  past  events,  than  Daniel  did  of  events 
that  were  then  future  ;  some  of  them  reacing  down  the  stream 
of  time,  for  several  hundred  years,  unfolding  events  which  no 
human  sagacity  could  possibly  have  foreseen?  Man,  by  his 
own  sagacity,  may  accomplish  many  things;  ho  may  plow  the 
trackless  ocean  without  wind  or  tide  in  his  favor ;  he  may  soar 
aloft  amid  the  clouds  without  the  aid  of  wings ;  he  may  trav- 
erse the  land  with  astonishing  velocity  without  the  aid  of 
beasts;  or  he  may  convey  his  thoughts  to  his  fellows  by  the 
aid  of  letters;  or  by  the  help  of  science,  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth  in  a  second  of  time.  But  there  is  a  principle  he  can 
never  attain;  no,  not  even  by  the  wisdom  of  ages  combined; 
money  will  not  purchase  it;  it  comes  from  God  only,  and  is 
bestowed  upon  man  as  a  free  gift.  The  prophet  said  to  the 
idols,  "Show  the  things  that  are  to  come  hereafter,  that  we  may 
know  ye  are  gods"  (v). 

These  prophecies  were  literally  fulfilled  in  relation  to  Jesus 
Christ.  Behold,  said  the  prophet,  "A  virghrshall  conceive 
and  bear  a  son."  Bethlehem  was  to  be  the  place  of  his  birth ; 
and  Egypt,  where  he  sojourned  with  his  parents,  the  place  out 
of  which  he  was  to  be  called,  He  turned  aside  to  Nazareth,  for 
it  was  written,  "he  shall  be  called  a  Nazarene."  He  rode  into 
Jerusalem  upon  a  colt,  the  foal  of  an  ass,  for  the  prophet  had 
said: 

M  Isa.  41  :  23. 


24  VOICE  OF 

"Behold  thy  King  cometh  unto  thee  :  he  is  just  and  having  salvation ; 
lowly,  and  riding  upon  an  ass,  and  upon  a  colt  the  foal  of  an  ass,1'  (w). 

Precisely  as  the  prophets  foretold,  lie  was  afflicted  and  des- 
pised; a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief;  led  as  a 
lamb  to  the  slaughter,  and  like  a  sheep  dumb  before  his  hearers, 
so  he  opened  not  his  mouth.  In  his  humiliation  his  judgment 
was  taken  away;  and  who  shall  declare  his  generation,  for  his 
life  was  taken  from  the  earth.  He  was  wounded  for  our  trans- 
gressions, and  by  his  stripes  we  are  healed.  He  was  numbered 
with  transgressors.  He  made  his  grave  with  the  rich.  Not 
a  bone  of  him  was  broken;  they  divided  his  raiment;  cast  lots 
for  his  vesture;  gave  him  gall  and  vinegar  to  drink;  betrayed 
him  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver;  and  finally,  when  it  was  finished, 
he  rested  in  the  tomb  until  the  third  day,  and  then  rose  tri- 
umphant without  seeing  corruption,  (x). 

Now,  kind  reader,  if  you  had  walked  up  and  down  with  our 
dear  Eedeemer  during  his  whole  sojourn  in  the  flesh,  and  taken 
pains  to  record  the  particular  circumstances  of  his  life  and 
death,  as  they  occurred  from  time  to  time,  your  history  would 
not  be  a  plainer  one,  than  the  prophets  gave  of  him,  hundreds 
of  years  before  he  was  born.  There  is  one  thing  we  do  well  to 
notice,  concerning  the  manner  in  which  the  apostles  interpreted 
prophecy,  and  that  is  this :  they  quoted  it,  and  recorded  its 
literal  fulfillment.  By  pursuing  this  course,  they  were  ena- 
bled to  bring  it  home  to  the  hearts  of  the  people  in  the  Jew- 
ish synagogues,  with  such  convincing  proof,  that  they  were 
constrained  to  believe  the  supposed  imposter  'whom  they  had 
crucified  was  the  Messiah.  If  they  had  rendered  a  spiritual* 
izing  or  uncertain  application,  like  the  teachers  of  the  present 
day,  all  would  have  been  uncertainty  and  doubt,  and  demon- 
stration would  have  vanished  from  the  earth. 

Having  taken  a  view  of  the  old  Testament  prophets,  con- 
cerning prophecy  and  its  fulfillment,  and  having  shown  clearly, 
that  nothing  but  a  literal  fulfillment  was  intended,  the  objector 
may  enquire  whether  the  same  mode  will  apply  to  the  predic- 
tions contained  in  the  New  Testament?  We  therefore  present 
a  few  important  instances  of  prophecy,  and  its  fulfillment;  from 
the  New  Testament,  after  which  we  shall  be  prepared  to  ex- 
amine the  numerous  prophecies  which  are  still  unfulfilled. 
One  of  the  most  remarkable  prophecies  of  the  Savior  is  record- 
ed as  follows : 

"And  when  ye  shall  soe  Jerusalem  compassed  with  armies,  then  know 
that  the  clesolasion  thereof  it  nigh.  Then  let  them  which  are  in  Jiidoa 
(«>)  Zecli,  9 :  0.  00  See  Isa.  r>3. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  25 

flee  to  tlie  mountains  ;  and  let  them  which  are  in  the  midst  of  it  depart 
out ;  and  let  not  them  that  are  in  the  countries  enter  thereinto.  For 
these  be  the  days  of  vengeance,  that  all  things  which  are  written  may  be 
fulfilled.  But  wo  unto  them  that  are  with  child,  and  to  them  that  give 
suck  in  those  days,  for  there  shall  be  great  distress  in  the  land,  and  wrath 
upon  this  people.  And  they  shall  fall  by  the  edge  of  the  sword,  and  shall 
be  led  away  captive  into  all  nations  :  and  Jerusalem  shall  be  trodden  down 
of  the  Gentiles,  until  the  time  of  the  Gentiles  be  fulfilled."  (y) 

This  prophecy  involves  the  fate  of  Jerusalem  and  the  tem- 
ple, and  the  whole  Jewish  nation  for  at  least  eighteen  hundred 
years.  About  the  year  seventy,  the  Koman  army  compassed 
Jerusalem.  The  disciples  remembered  the  warning  which  had 
been  given  them  by  their  Lord  and  Master,  forty  years  before, 
and  fled  to  the  mountains.  The  city  of  Jerusalem  was  taken, 
after  a  long  and  tedious  siege,  in  which  the  Jews  suffered  the 
extreme  of  famine,  pestilence,  and  the  sword ;  filling  houses 
with  the  dead,  for  the  want  of  a  place  to  bury  them,  while 
women  ate  their  own  children  for  the  want  of  all  things.  In 
this  struggle  there  perished  in  Jerusalem  near  one  million  and 
a  half  of  Jews,  besides  those  taken  captive.  Their  city  laid 
waste,  their  temple  destroyed,  and  the  miserable  remnant  dis- 
persed abroad  into  all  the  nations  of  the  earth :  in  which  sit- 
uation they  have  continued  ever  since,  being  driven  from  one 
nation  to  another,  often  falsely  accused  of  the  worst  of  crimes, 
for  which  they  were  banished,  and  their  goods  confiscated. 
Indeed  they  have  been  mostly  accounted  as  outlaws  among  the 
various  nations;  the  soles  of  their  feet  have  found  no  rest,  and 
they  have  been  a  hiss  and  a  by- word;  and  the  people  have  said, 
'•these  are  the  people  of  the  Lord,  and  are  gone  forth  out  of 
his  land." 

During  all  this  time  the  Gentiles  have  possessed  the  land  of 
Canaan,  and  trodden  under  foot  the  holy  city,  where  their  fore- 
fathers worshiped  the  Lord.  In  this  long  captivity  the  Jews 
have  never  lost  sight  of  the  promises  respecting  their  return. 
Their  eyes  have  watched  and  failed  with  longing  for  the  day 
when  they  might  possess  again  that  blessed  inheritance,  be- 
queathed to  their  forefathers ;  when  they  might  rear  again  their 
city  and  temple  and  re-establish  their  priesthood,  and  worship 
as  in  days  of  old.  Indeed,  they  have  made  several  attempts 
to  return,  but  were  always  frustrated  in  all  their  attempts,  for 
it  was  an  unalterable  decree,  that  Jerusalem  should  be  trodden 
down  of  the  Gentiles,  until  the  time  of  the  Gentiles  should  be 
fulfilled.  On  the  subject  of  this  long  dispersion,  Moses  and 
the  prophets  "have  written  very  plainly;  indeed,  Moses  even 

(./)  Luke  £1  :  20-24. 


26  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

mentioned  the  particulars  of  their  eating  their  children  secret- 
ly in  the  siege,  and  in  the  straitness  wherewith  their  enemies 
should  besiege  them  in  all  their  gates.  Whoever  will  read 
Deuteronomy  twenty-eighth  chapter,  will  read  the  history  of 
what  has  befallen  the  Jews,  which  was  foretold  by  Moses,  with 
all  the  clearness  that  characterizes  the  history  of  past  events, 
thousands  of  years  before  its  accomplishment.  A  prophet 
named  Agabus, 

"Took  Paul's  girdle  and  bound  his  own  hands  and  feet,  and  said,  Thus 
saith  the  Holy  Ghost,  So  shall  the  Jews  at  Jerusalem  bind  the  man  that 
owneth  this  girdle,  and  shall  deliver  him  into  the  hands  of  the  Gentiles.1' 
(i) 

The  fulfillment  of  this  prediction  is  too  well  known  to  need 
any  description.  We  therefore  proceed  to  notice  a  prophecy 
of  Paul,  recorded  in  2  Tim.  4:  3,  4: 

'Tor  the  time  will  come  when  they  will  not  endure  sound  doctrine  ; 
but  after  their  own  lusts  shall  they  heap  to  themselves  teachers  having 
itching  ears  ;  and  they  shall  turn  away  their  ears  from  the  truth,  and  shall 
be  turned  unto  fables."  (a) 

This  prophecy  has  been  fulfilled  to  the  very  letter;  for  it 
applies  to  every  religious  teacher,  who  has  arisen  from  that 
day  unto  the  present,  except  those  commissioned  by  direct 
revelation  and  inspired  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  But  to  convince 
the  reader  of  its  full  accomplishment,  we  need  only  point  to 
the  numberless  priests  of  the  day  who  preach  for  hire,  and 
divine  for  money,  and  who  receive  their  authority  from  their 
fellow  man;  and  as  to  fables  to  which  they  are  turned,  we  need 
only  to  mention  the  spiritualizings  and  private  interpretations, 
which  salute  our  ears,  from  almost  every  religious  press  and 
pulpit. 

There  is  another  prophecy  of  Paul  well  worth  attention,  as 
illustrative  of  the  times  in  which  we  live.  It  is  as  follows : 

"This  know  also,  that  in  the  last  days  perilous  times  shall  come.  For 
men  shall  be  lovers  of  their  own  selves,  covetous,  boasters,  proud,  blas- 
phemers, disobedient  to  parents,  unthankful,  unholy,  without  natural  af- 
fection, truce-breakers,  false  accusers,  incontinent,  fierce,  despisers  of  those 
that  are  good,  traitors,  heady,  high-minded,  lovers  of  pleasure  more  than 
lovers  of  God  ;  having  a  form  of  godliness,  but  denying  the  power  thereof: 
from  such  turn  away."  (&). 

From  the  last  verse  of  this  quotation,  we  learn  to  our  aston- 
isJinient,  that  this  awful  wickedness  applies  to  professors  of  re- 
ligion ONLY  ;  that  is,  this  would  be  the  character  of  the  (so- 
called)  Christian  part  of  community  in  the  last  days.  Do  not 
Startle  kind  reader,  we  do  not  make  the  application  without 

(*)  Acts  21 : 11.    (a)  2  Tim.  3 :  3,  4.    (&)  2  Tini.  3  : 1-5. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  27 

proof  to  the  point,  for  remember  non-professors  have 
no  form  of  godliness,  but  those  ungodly  characters  spoken  of 
were  to  have  a  form  of  godliness,  denying  the  power  thereof. 
13utif  you  doubt  Paul's  testimony  on  the  subject,  look  around 
you,  examine  for  yourselves.  "By  their  fruits  you  shall  know 
them."  My  heart  is  pained  while  I  write.  Alas,  has  it  come 
to  this ;  has  the  Spirit  of  truth  removed  the  vail  of  obscurity 
from  the  last  days,  only  to  present  us  with  a  vision  of  a  fallen 
people;  an  apostate  church,  full  of  all  manner  of  abominations, 
and  even  despising  those  who  are  good;  while  they  themselves, 
have  nothing  left  but  the  form  of  godliness,  denying  the  power 
of  God,  that  is,  setting  aside  the  direct  inspiration,  and  super- 
natural gifts  of  the  Spirit,  which  are  always  in  the  church  of 
Christ  ?  Was  it  for  this  only  that  the  Holy  Spirit  opened  to 
the  view  of  holy  men  the  events  of  unborn  time,  enabling 
them  to  gaze  upon  the  opening  glories  of  the  latter  days?  O 
ye  prophets  and  apostles,  ye  holy  men  of  old,  what  have  ye 
done  if  you  stop  here ;  if  your  prophetic  vision  only  extended 
down  the  stream  of  time,  to  the  present  year?  Alas!  you  have 
filled  our  minds  with  sorrow  and  despair.  You  have  left  the 
Jews  wandering  in  sorrow  and  darkness,  far  from  all  their 
hearts  hold  most  dear  on  earth,  their  land  a  desolation,  and 
their  city  and  temple  in  ruins,  and  they  without  the  knowledge 
of  the  true  Messiah.  The  Gentiles,  after  partaking  of  the 
root  and  fatness  of  the  tame  olive  tree,  having  fallen,  after  the 
same  example  of  unbelief,  are  left  without  fruit,  dead,  plucked 
up  by  the  roots,  with  nought  but  a  form  of  godliness,  while 
the  power  that  characterized  the  ancient  church,  has  fled  from 
among  men. 


CHAPTER  II. 

ON  TIIE  FULFILLMENT  OF  UNFILLED  PROPHECIES. 

Having  made  the  discovery,  and  produced  sufficient  proof, 
that  the  prophecies,  thus  far,  have  been  LITERALLY  fulfilled, 
we  hope  the  reader  will  not  lose  sight  of  the  same  rule  with 
regard  to  those  which  are  unfulfilled.  And  while  we  stand 
upon  the  threshold  of  futurity  with  the  wonders  of  unborn 
time  about  to  open  to  our  view,  presenting  before  our  aston- 


28  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

islied  vision  the  most  mighty  and  majestic  scenes,  the  most 
astonishing  revelations,  the  most  extraordinary  destructions, 
as  well  as  the  most  miraculous  displays  of  the  power  and  maj- 
esty of  Jehovah,  in  his  great  restoration  of  his  long  dispersed 
covenant  people,  from  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth  ;  I  say,  as 
the  scenes  arc  about  to  open  to  our  view,  let  us  bow  before  the 
grea*  I  AM,  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  and  pray  in  faith  for  his 
Spirit  to  enlarge  our  hearts,  and  enlighten  our  minds,  that  we 
may  understand  and  believe  all  that  is  written,  however  mi- 
raculous it  inny  be.  But  0,  kind  reader,  whoever  you  are, 
if  you  arc  not  prepared  for  persecution,  if  you  are  unprepared 
to  have  your  name  cast  o*it  as  evil,  if  you  cannot  bear  to  be 
called  a  knave,  an  im poster,  or  madman,  or  one  that  hath  a 
devil;  or  if  you  are  bound  by  the  creeds  of  men,  to  believe 
just  so  much  and  no  more,  you  had  better  stop  here ;  for  if 
you  were  to  believe  the  things  written  in  the  Bible,  that  are 
yet  to  transpire,  you  will  be  under  the  necessity  of  believing 
miracles,  signs  and  wonders,  revelations,  and  manifestations  of 
the  power  of  God,  even  beyond  any  thing  that  any  former  gen- 
eration has  witnessed;  yes.  you  will  believe  that  the  waters 
will  be  divided,  and  Israel  go  through  dry  shod,  as  they  journey 
to  their  own  land,  as  they  did  in  (he  days  of  Moses;  for  no  man 
ever  understandicgly  believed  the  Bible,  without  believing 
and  expecting  such  glorious  events  in  the  lal/er  dhys.  And 
I  will  now  venture  to  sriy,  that  a  believer  in  the  Bible,  would 
be  a  person  that  very  few  men,  comparatively,  have  ever  seen 
in  this  generation,  with  all  its  boasted  religion.  For  there  is 
great  difference  in  believing  the  book  to  bo  true  when  shut, 
and  believing  the  things  therein  written.  It  is  now  considered 
a  great  disgrace  not  to  believe  the  Bible  when  shut;  hut  who- 
soever tries  the  experiment,  will  find  that  it  is  held  to  be  a 
greater  disgrace  to  believe  that  the  things  therein  written  will 
surely  come  to  pass.  Indeed,  it  is  our  firm  belief  in,  and 
careful  teaching  of  the  things  written  in  the  Bible,  which  has 
been  one  great  cause  of  the  persecution  we  suffer;  for,  if  the 
prophecies  were  understood  by  the  people,  according  to  their 
fulfillment,  it  would  blow  to  the  four  winds  every  religious 
craft  in  Christendom,  and  cause  the  kingdom  of  Christ  to  - 
arise  upon  their  ruins,  while  the  actual  knowledge  cf  the  truth 
would  cover  the  earth  as  the  waters  do  the  sea. 

Having  said  so  much  by  way  of  caution,  if  there  are  any  of 
my  readers  so  bold,  and  regardless  of  consequenses,  as  to  dare 
with  me.  to  gaze  upon  the  future,  we  will  commence  with 
Isaiah. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  29 

u  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  that  the  Lord  shall  set  his 
hand  again  the  second  time  to  recover  tne  remnant  of  his  people  which 
shall  be  left,  from  Assyria,  and  from  Egypt,  and  from  Pathros,  and  from 
Gush,  and  from  Elam.  and  from  Shinar,  and  from  Hamath,  and  from  the 
islands  of  the  sea.  And  he  shall  set  up  an  ensign  for  the  nations  and 
shall  assemble  the  outcasts  of  Israel,  and  gather  together  the  dispersed 
of  Judah  from  the  four  corners  of  the  earth.  *  *  *  *  And  the  Lord  shall 
utterly  destroy  the  tongue  of  the  Egyptian  sea,  and  with  his  mighty 
wind  shall  he  shake  his  hand  over  the  river,  and  smite  it  in  the  seven 
streams,  and  make  men  go  over  dry  shod.  And  there  shall  be  an  high- 
way for  the  remnant  of  his  people,  which  shall  be  left  from  Assyria  ; 
like  as  it  was  to  Israel  in  the  day  that  he  came  up  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt."  (c) 

Here  you  behold  an  ensign  to  be  reared  for  the  nations; 
not  only  for  the  dispersed  of  Judah,  but  the  outcasts  of  Israel. 
The  Jews  are  called  dispersed,  because  they  are  scattered 
among  the  nations;  but  the  ten  tribes  are  called  outcasts,  be- 
cause they  are  cast  out  from  the  knowledge  of  the  nations,  in 
a  land  by  themselves.  Now  the  reader  will  bear  in  rnind,  that 
the  ten  tribes  have  not  dwelt  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  since 
they  were  led  captive  by  Shalmanezer,  king  of  Assyria.  We 
have  also  presented  before  us  in  the  fifteenth  verse  the  mar- 
velous power  of  God,  which  will  be  displayed  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  a  small  branch  of  the  Red  Sea;  and  also  the  dividing 
of  the  seven  streams  of  some  river ;  and  causing  men  to  go 
over  dry  shod :  and  lest  any  should  not  understand  it  literally, 
the  fifteenth  verse  says : 

41  There  shall  be  an  highway  for  the  remnant  of  his*  people,  which 
shall  be  left  from  Assyria,  LIKE  AS  it  icas  to  Israel^  in  the  day  that  he  came 
up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt"  (d) 

Now  we  have  only  to  ask  whether  in  the  days  of  Moses, 
the  Red  Sea  was  literally  divided,  or  whether  it  was  only  a 
figure  ?  For  as  it  was  then,  so  it  shall  be  again.  And  yet 
we  are  told  by  modern  divines,  that  the  days  of  miracles  have 
gone  forever :  and  those  who  believe  in  miracles  in  our  day, 
are  counted  as  imposters,  or  at  least  poor  ignorant  fanatics, 
and  the  public  are  warned  against  them  as  false  teachers,  who 
would  if  possible  deceive  the  very  elect.  On  the  subject  of 
this  restoration,  the  prophets  have  spoken  so  fully  and  so  re- 
peatedly, that  we  can  only  notice  a  few  of  the  most  striking 
instances,  which  will  go  to  show  the  particular  circumstances 
and  incidents  attending  it,  and  the  manner  and  means  of  its 
accomplishment.  Jeremiah  says : 

41  Therefore  behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord,  that  it  shall  no 
more  be  said,  The  Lord  livith,  that  brought  up  the  children  of  Israel  out 
(c)  Isaiah  11 : 11, 12, 15,  16,  (d)  Isaiah  11 : 15. 


30  VOICE  OF  WAENING. 

of  the  land  of  Egypt ;  but,  the  Lord  livcth  that  brought  up  the  children 
of  Israel  from  the  land  of  the  north,  and  from  all  the  lands  whither  he 
had  driven  them ;  and  I  will  bring  them  again  into  their  land  that  I 
gave  unto  their  fathers.  Behold,  I  will  send  for  many  fishers,  and  they 
shall  fish  them  ;  and  after  I  will  send  for  many  hunters,  and  they  shall 
hunt  them  from  every  mountain,  arid  from  every  hill,  and  out  of  the 
holes  of  the  rocks."  (?) 

It  has  ever  been  the  case  with  Israel,  when  they  wished  to 
express  the  greatness  of  their  God,  to  say,  "the  Lord  liveth 
whieh  hath  brought  up  our  fathers  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt." 
This  saying  at  once  called  to  mind  the  power  and  miracles 
connected  with  that  memorable  event;  and  associated  with  it 
all  that  was  great  and  grand,  or  calculated  to  strike  the  mind 
with  awe,  under  a  lively  sense  of  the  power  of  Israel's  God. 
Bub  something  is  yet  to  transpire  which  will  cast  into  moment- 
ary forgetfulness,  all  the  great  events  of  that  day,  and  the 
children  of  Israel  shall  know  that  their  God  liveth,  by  casting 
their  minds  upon  events  of  recent  date  which  shall  have  trans- 
pired, still  'more  glorious  and  wonderful  than  their  coming 
out  of  Egypt,  therefore  they  will  exclaim,  "the  Lord  livetli 
which  recently  brought  the  children  of  Israel  from  the  north 
and  from  all  lands  whither  he  had  driven  them;  and  hath 
planted  them  in  the  land  of  Canaan  which  he  gave  our  fath- 
ers." With  this  idea  will  be  associated  every  display  of  gran- 
deur and  sublimity,  of  wonder  and  amazement,  while  they 
call  to  mind  the  revelations,  the  manifestations,  the  miracles, 
and  the  mercies  displayed  in  bringing  about  this  great  event, 
in  the  eyes  of  all  the  nations. 

In  view  of  this,  Jeremiah  exclaims  in  the  last  verse  of  this 
chapter : 

"  Therefore  behold,  I  will  this  once  cause  them  to  know,  I  will  cause 
them  to  know  my  hand  and  my  might ;  and  they  shall  know  that  my 
name  is  the  Lord."  (/) 

But  the  means  made  use  of  to  bring  about  this  glorious 
event,  are  not  only  in  the  raising  of  a  standard,  the  lifting  up 
of  an  ensign,  so  that  we  may  know  when  the  time  is  fulfilled, 
but  fishers  and  hunters  are  to  be  employed  to  fish  and  hunt 
them  from  every  mountain,  from  every  hill,  and  out  of  the 
holes  of  the  rocks.  Let  the  reader  mark  here,  that  uninspired 
men  were  not  to  send  uninspired  missionaries  to  teach  Israel 
several  hundred  different  doctrines  and  opinions  of  men,  and 
to  tell  them  they  suppose  the  time  has  about  arrived  for  them 
to  gather;  but  the  God  of  heaven  is  to  call  men  by  actual 

(e)  Jer.  16  : 14-16.    (/)  Jer.  16  :  21. 


VOICE  OF  WASHING.  31 

revelation,  direct  from  heaven,  and  to  tell  them  who  Israel  is; 
who  the  Indians  of  America  are,  if  they  should  be  of  Israel, 
and  also  where  the  ten  tribes  are,  and  all  the  scattered  rem- 
nants of  that  long  lost  people.  He  it  is  who  is  to  give  them 
their  errand  and  mission,  and  to  clothe  them  with  power  from 
on  high  to  execute  the  great  work,  in  defiance  of  opposing 
elements  and  all  the  opposition  of  earth  and  hell  combined. 
But,  do  you  ask  why  is  the  Lord  to  commission  men  by  actual 
revelation  ?  I  reply,  because  He  has  no  other  way  of  sending 
men  in  any  age.  "  No  man,  [says  the  apostle],  taketh  this 
honor  upon  himself  but  he  that  is  called  of  God,  as  was 
Aaron."  Now  we  all  acknowledge  that  Aaron  was  called  by 
revelation. 

Now  the  Great  Jehovah  never  has,  and  never  will,  acknowl- 
edge the  priesthood  or  ministry  of  any  man,  who  is  not  called 
by  revelation  or  inspired,  as  were  men  in  days  of  old.  But,  says 
the  reader,  you  startle  me,  for  the  whole  train  of  modern  divines 
profess  no  revelation,  later  than  the  Bible,  and  no  direct  in- 
spiration, or  supernatural  gift  of  the  Spirit.  Do  you  cast  them 
all  off,  and  say  they  have  no  authority  ?  I  reply,  yes,  for  the 
Bible  does  it,  and  I  humbly  acquiesce  in  the  decision,  as  they 
are  nowhere  known  in  scripture,  except  as  teachers  whom  the 
people  have  heaped  to  themselves.  The  word  "  heap  "  does 
not  mean  few,  but  many.  But  to  prove  more  fully  that  God 
will  give  revelations  in  order  to  bring  about  this  glorious  work, 
we  refer  to  Ezekiel.  It  reads :  . 

"  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  surely  with  a  mighty  hand,  and  with 
a  stretched  out  arm,  and  with  fury  poured  out,  will  I  rule  over  you  ;  and 
I  will  bring  you  out  from  the  people,  and  will  gather  you  out  of  the 
countries  wherein  ye  are  scattered,  with  a  mighty^  hand,  and  with  a 
stretched-out  arm,  and  with  fury  poured  out.  And  I  will  bring  you  into 
the  wilderness  of  the  people,  and  there  will  I  plead  with  you  face  to 
face;  like  as  I  pleaded  with  your  fathers  in  the  wilderness  of  the  land 
of  Egypt,  so  will  I  plead  with  you,  saith  the  Lord  God.  And  I  will  cause 
you  to  pass  under  the  rod,  and  I  will  bring  you  into  the  bond  of  the  cove- 
nant. And  I  will  purge  out  from  among  you  the  rebels,  and  them  that 
transgress  against  me  :  I  will  bring  them  forth  out  of  the  country  where 
they  sojourn,  and  they  shall  not  enter  into  the  land  of  Israel :  and  ye 
shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord."  (g) 

This  promise  begins  with  a  double  assurance ;  first,  with  an 
oath,  as  I  live;  second,  with  an  assurance,  surely,  with  a  mighty 
hand,  etc.  Lest  the  people  should  misunderstand  him,  he  ex- 
claims: "  0  Lord,  they  say  of  me,  doth  he  not  speak  in  para- 
bles ! "  Here  we  have  the  children  of  Israel  brought  from 

(g)  Ezek.  40 : 33-33. 


32  ^  PREFACE. 

among  all  nations,\with  a  mighty  hand  and  a  stretched  out 
arm,  and  with  fury  "poured  out.  (0  ye  nations  who  oppose 
these  things,  beware,  remember  Pharaoh,  and  learn  wisdom !) 
We  see  them  brought  into  the  wilderness  of  the  people;  and 
there  the  Lord  is  to  plead  with  them,  face  to  face,  just  as  he 
did  with  their  fathers,  in  the  wilderness  of  Egypt.  This 
pleading  face  to  face  can  never  be  done,  without  revelation, 
and  a  personal  manifestion  as  much  so  as  in  old  times.  Now 
I  ask,  was  all  His  manifestations  to  Israel  in  the  wilderness  a 
mere  fable,  not  to  be  understood  literally  ?  If  so,  this  will  be 
so  too;  for  one  will  be  precisely  like  the  other,  no  parable  but 
a  glorious  reality.  He  will  cause  them  to  pass  under  the  rod, 
and  bring  them  into  the  bond  of  the  covenant.  This  brings  to 
inind  the  new  covenant,  so  often  promised  in  the  Scriptures, 
to  be  made  with  the  house  of  Israel  and  with  the  house  of 
Judah,  just  in  time  to  gather  them  from  their  long  dispersion. 
Some  may  suppose  that  the  new  covenant  which  was  to  gather 
Israel  made  its  appearance  in  the  days  of  Christ  and  his 
Apostles,  but  Paul  in  his  day  represents  that  it  was  an  unful- 
filled prophesy. 

"  That  blindness  in  part  is  happened  unto  Israel,  until  the  fullness  of 
the  Gentiles  be  come  in.  .And  so  all  Israel  shall  be  saved  ;  as  it  is  writ- 
ten, There  shall  come  out  of  Zion  the  Deliverer,  and  shall  turn  away  un- 
godliness from  Jacob  ;  for  this  is  my  covenant  unto  them,  when  I  shall 
take  away  their  sins."  (h) 

From  this  we  learn  that  Paul  placed  that  covenant  in  the 
future,  even  down  to  the  restoration  of  Israel  in  the  last  days, 
when  the  times  of  the  Gentiles  should  be  fulfilled.  Then 
there  should  come  a  deliverer  for  Israel,  and  not  before,  seeing 
that  they  had  rejected  the  first  coming  of  that  deliverer.  And 
He  himself  said  to  the  Jews, 

"  Behold  your  house  is  left  unto  you  desolate.  For  I  say  unto  you, 
Ye  shall  not  see  me  henceforth,  till.ye  shall  say,  Blessed  is  he  that  com- 
eth  in  the  name  of  the  Lord."  (i) 

Then,  and  not  until  then,  will  the  covenant  be  renewed 
with  Israel.  And  even  when  the  Apostles  enquired,  saying, 
"Wilt  thou  at  this  time  restore  again  the  kingdom  to  Israel?" 
the  Savior  said  that  it  was  not  for  them  to  know  the  times 
and  seasons,  which  the  father  had  put  in  his  own  power;  but 
they  were  to  receive  power,  and  bear  witness  of  him,  etc.;  as 
much  as  to  say,  "  that  work  is  not  for  you,  mine  Apostles  to 
accomplish,  but  it  shall  be  done  in  the  Lord's  own  time,  by  whom 
he  will;  but  go  ye,  and  do  the  work  I  have  commanded  you." 

(/O  Rom,  11 :  25-27.    (r)  Matt.  23 ;  38,  39. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  33 

Isaiah,  in  speaking  of  this  covenant,  tell  us,  that  it 
should  make  their  seed  known  among  the  Gentiles,  and  their 
offspring  among  the  people,  and  cause  all  that  see  them,  to 
acknowledge  them,  that  they  are  the  seed  that  the  Lord  hath 
blessed,  (y) 

Now  we  know  that  it  is  a  question  which  can  only  be  deci- 
ded by  revelation,  whether  the  aborigines  of  America  are  the 
seed  of  Jacob  or  not;  and  there  has  been  much  controversy 
concerning  the  location  of  the  ten  tribes,  and  who  they  are ; 
but  the  new  covenant  will  reveal  these  things,  and  will  leave 
the  matter  no  longer  in  suspense;  we  shall  then  know  their 
seed  among  the  Gentiles,  and  their  offspring  among  the  people. 
But  0,  how  different  was  the  effect  of  the  covenant  made 
eighteen  hundred  years  ago  in  its  effects  upon  Israel;  it  cast 
them  off  in  unbelief,  and  caused  all  that  have  seen  them  or 
heard  of  them  ever  since  to  acknowledge  that  they  are  the 
seed  the  Lord  hath  cursed.  When  the  covenant  is  renewed 
in  the  last  days  the  Lord  will  bring  them  into  the  bond  of  the 
covenant,  by  manifesting  himself  to  them  face  to  face.  Let 
me  inquire  how  does  God  make  a  covenant  with  the  people 
in  any  age?  The  answer  is,  by  communicating  His  will  to 
them  by  actual  revelation ;  for  without  this,  it  would  be  impos- 
sible to  make  a  covenant  between  two  parties.  In  order  to 
illustrate  this  subject,  let  us  bring  an  example  and  see  how 
we  make  covenant  with  each  other.  For  instance,  a  young 
man  wishes  to  enter  into  a  covenant  of  matrimony  with  a  young 
lady;  but  deprive  him  of  the  privilege  of  revealing  his  mind 
to  her,  cut  off  all  direct  communication  between  them,  and  a 
covenant  could  never  be  made;  and  so  it  is  with  the  Almighty. 
He  never  did  enter  into  a  covenant  with  his  creatures,  with- 
out revelations;  and  He  never  can  do  it.  In  short,  whenever 
He  made  covenant  with  the  people,  where  a  whole  people  were 
concerned,  he  included  in  the  covenant,  the  priesthood,  offices, 
and  authorities,  together  with  the  ordinances  and  blessings 
which  pretaintoHis  covenant;  and  so  will  He  do  at  this  time, 
Whenever  the  new  covenant  is  established,  it  will  organize  the 
kingdom  of  God  with  all  its  offices,  ordinances,  gifts  and  bless- 
ings, as  in  days  of  old;  but  more  of  this  when  we  come  to  treat 
of  the  kingdom  of  God.  But,  says  the  inquirer,  What  need 
have  we  of  the  renewal  of  a  covenant  which  has  never  been 
broken  ?  If  the  Lord  made  a  covenant  in  the  days  of  the  Apos- 
tles, called  a  new  covenant,  why  should  that  covenant  still  be 
renewed  again,  seeing  it  is  in  full  force  until  it  is  broken  by 

(J)  Isa.  61  :  8,  0. 


34  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

one  party  or  the  other  ?  This  is  an  important  inquiry,  involv- 
ing the  fate  of  all  Christendom  in  its  decision;  we  must  there- 
fore be  very  careful  to  make  the  decision  perfectly  plain,  and 
the  proof  easy  to  be  understood.  That  there  was  a  new  cove- 
nant made  between  God  and  his  people,  in  the  days  of  Christ 
and  His  Apostles,  we  will  not  deny;  and  if  that  covenant 
never  has  been  broken,  it  must  be  in  force  till  the  present 
day,  and  consequently  there  is  no  need  of  a  new  one.  It  there- 
fore remains  for  us  to  prove  that  the  covenant  has  been  broken 
— completely  broken,  so  that  it  is  not  in  force,  either  among 
Jews  or  Gentiles,  having  lost  its  offices,  authorities,  powers  and 
blessings,  insomuch  that  they  are  no  where  to  be  found  among 
men.  In  order  to  do  this,  we  must  examine  what  were  its 
offices,  authorities,  power  and  blessings,  and  then  see  whether 
they  are  still  known  to  exist. 

We  read  taht  its  offices  consisted  of  Apostles,  Prophets, 
Evangelists,  Pastors  and  Teachers,  all  inspired,  and  set  in  the 
Church  by  the  Lord  himself,  for  the  edifying  of  the  Saints, 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  etc.  And  they  were  to  continue 
in  the  Church,  wherever  it  was  found,  until  they  all  come  to 
the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of 
a  man  in  Christ.  (&) 

Secondly,  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit,  which  some  call  supernat- 
ural, were  the  powers  and  blessings  which  pretained  to  that 
covenant,  wherever  it  existed,  among  the  Jews  or  Gentiles, 
so  long  as  the  covenant  was  in  force.  Now,  I  would  ask  the 
whole  of  Christendom,  or  any  of  its  sects  or  parties,  if  they 
have  Apostles,  Prophets,  Evangelists,  Pastors,  and  Teachers, 
inspired  from  on  high,  together  with  the  gifts  and  blessings 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  pertained  to  the  gospel  covenant? 
If  not,  then  the  offices  and  power  of  that  covenant  have  been 
lost.  And  it  must  be  through  the  breaking  of  that  covenant, 
that  they  were  lost;  for  in  this  way  the  Jews  lost  these  privi- 
leges, when  they  were  handed  to  the  Gentiles.  And  Paul 
told  the  Gentiles,  in  Romans  eleventh  chapter,  than  if  they 
did  not  abide  in  his  goodness,  they  would  fall,  as  the  Jews  had 
done  before  them.  But  in  order  to  prove  by  further  demon- 
stration, that  thejgospel  covenant  has  been  broken,  by  Jew 
and  Gentile  and  all  people,  so  as  to  be  no  longer  in  force,  I 
shall  quote.  (7) 

"Behold,  the  Lord  maketh  the  earth  empty,  and  maketh  it  waste,  and 
turneth  it  upside  down,  and  scattereth  abroad  the  inhabitants  thereof. 
And  it  shall  be,  as  with  the  people,  so  with  the  priest;  as  with  the  ser- 
(//)  See  Ephesians  4th  chapter.    (Z)  Tsa.  24  ;  1-6, 


*    VOICE  OF  WARNING.  35 

vant,  so  with  his  master;  as  with  the  maid,  so  with  her  mistress;  as  with 
the  buyer,  so  with  the  seller;  as  with  the  lender,  so  with  the  borrower; 
as  with  the  taker  of  usury,  so  with  the  giver  of  usury  to  him.  The  land 
shall  be  utterly  emptied,  and  utterly  spoiled :  for  the  Lord  hath  spoken 
this  word.  The  earth  mourneth  and  fadeth  away,  the  world  languisheth 
and  fadeth  away,  the  haughty  people  of  the  earth  do.  languish.  The 
earth  also  is  defiled  under  the  inhabitants  thereof;  BECAUSE  THEY  HAVE 

TRANSGRESSED  THE  LAWS,  CHANGED  THE  ORDINANCE,  BROKEN  THE  EVER- 
LASTING COVENANT.  Therefore  hath  the  curse  devoured  the  earth,  and 
and  they  that  dwell  therein  are  desolate;  therefore  the  inhabitants  of  the 
earth  are  burned,  and  few  men  left.1' 

In  these  verses  we  discover  a  like  calamity  awaiting  priest 
and  people,  rich  and  poor,  bond  and  free,  insomuch  that  all  are 
to  be  burned  up  but  a  few,  and  the  complaint  is  that  the 
earth  is  defiled  under  the  inhabitants  thereof,  because  they 
have  transgressed  the  law,  changed  the  ordinance,  and  broken 
the  everlasting  covenant.  Now,  this  could  not  be  speaking  of 
any  other  than  the  covenant,  ordinances  and  law  of  the  gospel, 
made  with  the  people  in  the  days  of  the  Apostles;  because, 
however  any  former  covenant  may  have  been  broken,  yet  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  excepting  only  a  few,  were  never 
destroyed  by  fire,  for  having  broken  any  previous  covenant; 
but  this  destruction  is  to  come  by  fire  as  literally  as  the  flood 
in  the  days  of  Noah;  and  it  will  consume  both  priests  and 
people  from  the  earth;  and  that  too  for  having  broken  the 
covenant  of  the  gospel,  with  its  laws  and  its  ordinances;  or 
else  we  must  get  a  new  edition  of  the  Bible,  leaving  out  the 
twenty-fourth  chapter  of  Tsaiah. 

Now,  having  settled  this  question,  I  trust  the  reader  will 
see  the  need  of  a  new  covenant,  in  order  to  save  the  few  that 
are  not  to  be  burned.  We  will  therefore  dismiss  this  subject 
for  the  present,  and  turn  again  to  the  subject  of  the  gathering 
of  Israel.  You  will  please  read  Ezekiel  thirty-sixth  to  the 
thirty-ninth  chaper.  In  the  thirty-sixth  chapter  you  will  dis- 
cover a  promise  that  Israel  is  to  return  from  all  the  nations 
whither  they  have  been  scattered,  and  to  be  brought  again  to 
the  land  which  God  gave  to  their  fathers.  Jerusalem  is  to  be 
filled  with  men,  and  the  desolate  cities  of  Judea  are  to  be 
rebuilt,  fenced  and  inhabited.  The  land  is  to  be  fenced,  tilled 
and  sown,  insomuch,  that  they  will  say,  "this  land  that  was 
desolate,  is  become  like  the  garden  of  Eden."  The  Lord 


*'I  the  Lord  build  the  ruined  places,  and  plant  that  that  was  desolate, 
I  the  Lord  have  spoken  it,  and  I  will  do  it.  *  *  *  As  the  holy  flock,  as 
the  flock  of  Jerusalem  in  her  solemn  feasts;  so  shall  the  waste  cities  be 


36  VOICE  OF 

filled  with  flocks  of  men;  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  tho  Lord.1'  (m). 
In  the  thirty-seventh  chapter,  after  the  vision  of  the  dead, 
the  prophet  foretells  that  the  two  nations  will  become  one 
nation  upon  the  mountains  of  Israel,  and  one  king  be  king  to 
them  all;  and  when  this  takes  place,  they  are  no  more  to  be 
divided  into  two  kingdoms.  Moreover,  the  Lord's  tabernacle 
is  to  be  with  them,  and  His  sanctuary  in  the  midst  of  them 
forevermore;  He  will  forever  be  their  Gcd,  and  they  shall  be 
his  people.  The  Lord  says  :— 

"And  the  heathen  shall  know  that  1  the  Lord  do  sanctify  Israel  t  when 
my  sanctuary  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  them  for  evermore.1'  (n) 

Now,  it  is  a  fact  well  known,  that  Judah  and  the  ten  tribes 
have  never  been  one  nation  upon  the  mountains  of  Israel,  since 
the  day  they  were  first  divided  into  two  nations. 

But,  when  this  will  take  place,  even  the  very  heathen  are 
to  know  it,  and  are  to  be  convinced  of  the  true  God,  as  was 
the  case  with  Cyrus.  Now,  if  the  missionaries  should  convert 
the  world  before  the  Lord  does  this  great  work,  then  it  will 
save  the  Lord  the  trouble  of  doing  it  in  his  own  way,  and  it 
will  save  the  trouble  of  fulfilling  the  prophecies,  and  the  word 
of  the  Lord  will  fail,  and  all  the  world  may  lay  hold  on  infidel- 
ity. Well  did  the  Lord  say,  "my  ways  are  not  as  your  ways, 
nor  my  thoughts  as  your  thoughts."  Chapters  thirty-eight 
and  thirty-nine  present  us  with  a  view  of  many  nations,  united 
under  one  great  head,  whom  the  Lord  is  pleased  to  call  Gog; 
and  being  mounted  on  horseback,  and  armed  with  all  sorts  of 
armor,  they  came  up  against  the  mountains  of  Israel,  as  a  cloud 
to  cover  the  land;  their  object  is  to  take  a  prey,  to  take  away 
silver  and  gold,  and  cattle,  and  goods  in  great  abundance. 

And  this  is  an  event  which  is  to  transpire  after  the  return 
of  the  Jews,  and  the  rebuilding  of  Jerusalem :  while  the  towns 
of  the  land  of  Judea  are  without  walls,  having  neither  bars 
nor  gates.  But  while  they  are  at  the  point  to  swollow  up  the 
Jews,  and  lay  waste  their  country,  behold  the  Lord's  fury 
comes  up  in  his  face,  a  mighty  earthquake  is  the  result,  inso- 
much that  the  fishes  of  the  sea,  and  the  fowls  of  the  air,  and 
all  the  creeping  things,  and  all  men  upon  the  face  of  the 
earth  shall  fall  to  the  ground,  and  every  man's  sword  shall  be 
against  his  neighbor  in  this  army,  and  the  Lord  shall  rain 
upon  him  and  upon  his  bands,  and  upon  the  many  people  that 
are  with  him,  an  overflowing  rain,  great  hailstones,  fire  and 
brimstone.  And  thus  he  will  magnify  himself,  and  sanctify 

(?n)  Ezekiel  36  :  36-38.    (n)  Ezekiel  37  :  28, 


VOICE  OF  WARNING,  37 

himself,  in  the  eyes  of  many  nations,  and  they  shall  know  that 
he  is  the  Lord;  thus  shall  they  fall  upon  the  open  field,  upon 
the  mountains  of  Israel,  even  Gog  and  all  his  army,  horses 
horsemen;  and  the  Jews  shall  go  forth  and  gather  the  weap- 
ons- of  war,  such  as  had  staves,  spears,  shields  and  bows  and 
arrows;  and  these  weapons  shall  last  the  cities  of  Israel  seven 
years  for  fuel,  so  that  they  shall  cut  no  wood  out  of  the  forests, 
for  they  shall  burn  the  weapons  with  fire;  and  they  shall  spoil 
those  that  spoiled  them,  and  rob  those  that  robbed  them,  and 
they  shall  gather  gold  and  silver,  and  apparel,  in  great  abun- 
dance. At  this  time,  the  fowls  of  the  air,  and  the  beasts  of 
the  field,  shall  have  a  great  feast;  yea,  they  are  to  eat  fat 
until  they  be  full,  and  drink  blood  until  they  be  drunken. 
They  are  to  eat  flesh  of  captains,  and  kings,  and  mighty  men, 
and  all  men  of  war.  But  the  Jews  will  have  a  very  serious 
duty  to  perform,  which  will  take  no  less  than  seven  months; 
namely,  the  burying  of  their  enemies.  They  will  select  a  place 
on  the  east  side  of  the  sea,  called  the  Valley  of  the  Passengers; 
and  there  shall  they  bury  Gog,  and  all  his  multitude,  and  they 
shall  call  it  the  Valley  of  Hamon  Gog.  And  the  scent  shall 
go  forth,  insomuhc  that  it  shall  Stop  the  noses  of  the  passen- 
gers; thus  shall  they  cleanse  the  land.  The  Lord  says, 

"And  I  will  set  my  glory  among  the  heathen,  and  all  the  heathen  shall 
see  my  judgment  that  I  have  executed,  and  my  hand  that  I  have  laid  upon 
them ;  so  the  house  of  Israel  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord  their  God 
from  that  day  forward.  And  the  heathen  shall  know  that  the  house  of 
Israel  went  into  captivity  for  their  iniquity,  because  they  trespassed 
against  me;  therefore  hid  I  my  face  from  them,  and  gave  them  into  the 
hands  of  their  enemies,  so  fell  they  all  by  the  sword.  According  to  their 
uncleanness,  and  according  to  all  their  transgressions  have  I  done  unto 
them,  and  hid  my  face  from  them ;  therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God, 
now  will  I  bring  again  the  captivity  of  Jacob,  and  have  mercy  upon  the 
whole  house  of  Israel,  and  will  be  jealous  for  my  holy  name ;  after  that 
they  have  borne  their  shame,  and  all  their  trespasses,  whereby  they 
have  trespassed  against  me,  when  they  dwelt  safely  in  their  land,  and 
none  made  them  afraid.  When  I  have  brought  them  again  from  the 
people,  and  gathered  them  out  of  their  enemies,  lands,  and  am  sanctified 
in  them,  in  the  eyes  of  many  nations;  then  shall  they  know  that  I  am 
the  Lord  their  God,  who  caused  them  to  be  led  into  captivity  among  the  " 
heathen;  but  I  have  gathered  them  into  their  own  land,  and  have  left 
none  of  them  any  more  there ;  neither  will  I  hide  my  face  any  more  from 
them,  for  I  have  poured  out  my  spirit  upon  the  house  of  Israel,  saith  the 
Lord  God.1'  (o) 

In  the  foregoing  quotation,  we  discover  that  the  heathen 
are  to  know,  that  the  house  of  Israel  went  into  captivity  for 
their  iniquity,  and  are  gathered  again  by  the  hand  of  God, 

(o)  Ezek,  39:21-29. 


38  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

after  having  borne  their  shame  for  all  their  trespasses,  and  the 
house  of  Israel  shall  know  that  it  was  the  Lord  their  God  who 
caused  them  to  be  led  into  captivity  among  the  heathen,  and 
that  He  it  was,  that  gathered  and  defended  them,  and  He  will 
hide  His  face  no  more  from  them,  but  will  pour  out  his  Spirit 
on  them. 

0,  ye  blind,  ye  stiff-necked,  ye  hard-hearted  generation,  with 
the  Bible  circulated  among  all  nations.  Will  whole  nations 
be  so  blind  as  to  fulfill  this  prophecy,  and  not  know  it,  until 
it  brings  destruction  upon  their  own  head  ?  Why  all  this  blind- 
ness? Alas!  it  is  because  of  false  teachers  who  will  tell  them 
the  Bible  must  be  spiritualized.  Others  declare  that  these 
prophecies  can  never  be  understood,  until  they  are  fulfilled. 
If  this  be  the  case,  then  we  can  never  escape  the  judgments 
predicted  in  them,  but  must  continue  the  children  of  darkness, 
until  they  come  upon  us  unaware,  and  sweep  us  from  the  earth. 
Then  where  will  be  the  consolation  of  looking  back  and  seeing 
them  fulfiilled  ?  But  blessed  be  God,  He  has  told  us  by  the 
mouth  of  Daniel,  that  many  shall  run  to  and  fro,  and  knowl- 
edge shall  be  increased,  and  that  the  wise  shall  understand. 
And  now  I  ask,  who  are  more  wicked  than  the  wilfully  blind 
leaders  of  the  blind,  who  tell  us  we  can  not  understand  the 
Scriptures  ? 

Zechariah,  in  his  fourteenth  chapter,  has  told  us  much  con- 
cerning the  great  battle  and  overthrow  of  the  nations  who  fight 
against  Jerusalem,  and  he  has  said  in  plain  words,  that  the 
Lord  should  come  at  the  time  of  the  overthrow  of  that  army ; 
yea,  in  fact  even  while  they  are  in  the  act  of  taking  Jerusalem, 
and  have  already  succeeded  in  taking  one  half  of  the  city  and 
spoiling  their  houses,  and  ravishing  their  women.  Then  the 
Jews  behold  their  Messiah,  suddenly  standing,  His  feet  upon 
the  Mount  of  Olives,  a  little  east  of  Jerusalem,  to  fight  against 
those  nations,  and  deliver  the  Jew.  Zechariah  says,  the  Mount 
of  Olives  shall  cleave  in  twain,  from  east  to  west,  and  one  half 
of  the  mountain  shall  remove  to  the  north,  while  the  other  half 
shall  fall  off  to  the  south ;  suddenly  forming  a  very  great  valley 
into  which  the  Jews  shall  flee  for  protection  from  their  enemies, 
like  they  fled  from  the  earthquake  in  the  days  of  Uzziah,  king 
of  Juctah;  while  the  Lord  will  come,  and  all  the  Saints  with 
him.  Then  will  the  Jews  behold  that  long  expected  Messiah, 
coming  in  power  to  their  deliverance,  as  they  always  looked 
for  him.  He  will  destroy  their  enemies,  and  deliver  them 
from  trouble  at  the  very  time  when  they  will  be  in  the  utmost 


VOICE  OF  WA&NItfa.  39 

consternation,  and  about  to  be  swallowed  up  by  their  enemies. 
But  what  will  be  their  astonishment,  when  they  see  their  De- 
liverer, and  acknowledge  Him  as  their  Messiah,  they  discover 
the  wounds  which  once  pierced  His  hands,  and  feet,  and  side, 
and  on  inquiry  at  once  recognize  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  king 
of  the  Jews,  the  man  so  long  rejected.  Well  did  the  prophet 
say,  they  shall  mourn  and  weep,  every  family  apart,  and  their 
wives  apart.  But,  thank  heaven,  there  will  be  an  end  to  their 
mourning;  for  He  will  forgive  their  iniquities,  and  cleanse 
them  from  all  uncleanness.  Jerusalem  shall  be  a  holy  city 
from  that  time  forth;  and  all  the  land  shall  be  turned  as  a 
plain  from  Geba  to  Bimmon,  and  shall  be  lifted  up  and  inhab- 
ited in  her  place,  and  men  shall  dwell  there,  and  there  shall  be 
no  more  utter  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  "and  in  that  day  there 
shall  be  one  Lord,  and  his  name  one,  and  he  shall  be  King 
over  all  the  earth."  John,  in  the  eleventh  chapter  of  Reve- 
lations, gives  us  many  more  particulars  concerning  this  event. 
He  informs  us  that  after  the  city  and  temple  will  be  rebuilt 
by  the  Jews,  the  Gentiles  will  tread  it  under  foot,  forty  and 
two  months,  during  which  time  there  shall  be  two  prophets 
continually  prophesying,  and  working  mighty  miracles.  And 
it  seems  that  the  Gentile  army  will  be  hindered  from  utterly 
destroying  and  overthrowing  the  city,  while  these  two  proph- 
ets continue.  But  after  a  struggle  of  three  years  and  a  half, 
they  at  length  will  succeed  in  destroying  these  two  prophets, 
and  then  they  will  overrun  much  of  the  city.  They  will  send 
gifts  to  each  other,  because  of  the  death  of  the  two  prophets, 
and  in  the  mean  time  they  will  not  allow  their  dead  bodies  to 
be  put  in  graves,  but  will  suffer  them  to  lie  in  the  streets  of 
Jerusalem  three  days  and  a  half;  during  which  time  the 
armies  of  the  Gentiles,  consisting  of  many  kindred,  tongues, 
and  nations,  (passing  through  the  city,  plundering  the  Jews), 
will  see  their  dead  bodies  lying  in  the  street.  But  after  three 
days  and  a  half,  (suddenly),  the  Spirit  of  life  from  God  will 
enter  them,  and  they  will  arise  and  stand  upon  their  feet,  and 
great  fear  will  fall  upon  them  that  see  them.  And  then  they 
will  hear  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying,  "Come  up  hither,"  and 
they  will  ascend  up  to  heaven  in  a  cloud,  and  their  enemies 
will  behold  them.  Then  will  come  the  shaking  spoken  of  by 
Ezekiel;  and  the  rending  of  the  Mount  of  Olives,  spoken  of 
by  Zechariah.  John  says:  "The  same  hour  there  was  a  great 
earthquake,  and  the  tenth  part  of  the  city  fell;  and  in  the 
earthquake  were  slain  of  men  seven  thousand."  Then  one  of 
the  next  scenes  which  will  follow,  will  be  the  sound  of  voices, 


<40  VOICti  OP  WA&NIN& 

saying  j — "The  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  become  the  king- 
doms of  our  Lord  and  His  Christ,  and  He  shall  reign  for  ever 
and  ever." 

Having  described  the  great  events  spoken  of  by  these  proph- 
ets: I  remark,  that  there  is  no  difficulty  in  understanding 
them  all  to  be  plain,  and  literal  in  their  fulfillment. 

Suffice  it  is  to  say,  the  Jews  will  gather  home,  and  rebuild 
Jerusalem.  The  nations  will  gather  against  them  to  battle. 
Their  armies  will  compass  the  city,  and  have  power  over  it 
for  three  years  and  a  half.  Two  Jewish  prophets,  by  their 
mighty  miracles,  will  keep  them  from  utterly  overcoming  the 
Jews,  until  at  length  they  will  be  slain;  and  the  city  will  be 
left  in  a  great  measure  to  the  pillage  of  their  enemies  for  three 
days  and  a  half;  the  two  prophets  will  then  rise  from  the  dead, 
and  ascend  up  into  heaven.  The  Messiah  will  come,  convulse 
the  earth,  overthrow  the  armies  of  the  Gentiles,  deliver  the 
Jews,  cleanse  Jerusalem,  cut  off  all  wickedness  from  the  earth, 
raise  the  Saints  from  the  dead,  bring  them  with  him,  and  com- 
mence his  reign  of  a  thousand  years;  during  which  time  His 
Spirit  will  be  poured  out  upon  all  flesh ;  men  and  beasts,  birds 
and  serpents,  will  be  harmless,  and  the  knowledge  and  glory 
of  God  will  cover  the  earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea,  and 
the  kingdom  and  the  greatness  of  the  kingdom  under  the 
whole  heaven,  will  be  given  to  the  Saints  of  the  Most  High.  % 

During  the  thousand  years  Satan  will  be  bound,  and  have 
no  power  to  tempt  the  children  of  men.  And  the  earth  itself 
will  be  delivered  from  the  curse  which  came  by  reason  of  the 
fall.  The  rough  places  will  become  smooth;  the  barren  des- 
ert fruitful;  the  mountain  leveled;  the  valleys  exalted; 
the  thorn  and  thistle  shall  no  more  be  found,  but  all  the  earth 
shall  yield  her  increase  in  abundance  for  the  Saints  of  God. 
After  the  thousand  years  are  ended,  then  shall  Satan  be  loosed, 
and  go  out  to  deceive  the  nations  which  dwell  in  the  four 
quarters  of  the  earth,  to  gather  them,  and  bring  them  up  to 
battle  against  the  camp  of  the  Saints.  Then  the  great  and 
last  struggle  will  take  place  between  God  and  Satan,  for  the 
empire  of  the  earth.  Satan  and  his  army  will  be  overthrown. 
And  after  these  great  events,  the  end  of  the  earth,  the  resur- 
rection of  the  wicked,  and  the  last  judgment  will  come.  And 
there  shall  be  a  new  earth,  and  a  new  heaven,  for  the  former 
earth  and  the  former  heaven  will  pass  away,  that  is,  they  will 
be  changed  from  temporal  to  eternal,  and  made  fit  for  the  abode 
of  immortals.  Then  cometh  Jerusalem  down  from  God  out  of 
heaven,  having  been  renewed?  as  well  as  the  heavens  and  the 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  41 

earth.  For  said  lie,  "Behold  I  make  all  things  new/'  This 
new  city,  placed  upon  the  new  earth,  with  the  Lord  God  and 
the  Lamb  in  the  midst,  is  man's  eternal  abode ;  so  after  all  our 
longings  for  a  place  "beyond  the  bounds  of  time  and  space/' 
(as  saith  the  poet),  we  are  at  last  brought  to  our  common 
senses,  and  given  to  understand  that  man  is  destined  forever 
to  inherit  the  same  planet  upon  which  he  was  first  created; 
after  it  is  redeemed,  sanctified,  renewed,  purified  and  prepared 
as  an  eternal  inheritance  of  immortal  saints,  with  the  Holy 
City  for  the  capital,  the  throne  of  God  in  the  midst  for  the 
seat  of  Government;  and  watered  with  a  stream  clear  as  crystal, 
called  the  Waters  of  Life,  which  will  issue  from  the  throne  of 
Jehovah ;  while  either  side  will  be  adorned  with  trees  of  never 
fading  beauty. 

"Blessed  are  they  that  do  his  commandments,  that  they  may  have  right 
to  the  tree  of  life,  and  may  enter  in  through  the  gates  into  the  city."  (p) 

By  this  time  we  begin  to  understand  the  words  of  the 
Savior:  "Blessed  are  the  meek,  for  they  shall  inherit  the 
earth;"  and  the  song  which  John  heard  in  heaven,  which 
ended  thus:  "We  shall  reign  on  the  earth." 

We  gather  from  the  field  of  prophecy,  through  which  we 
have  passed,  first,  that  that  glorious  day  will  be  ushered  in  by  the 
personal  coming  of  Christ,  and  the  resurrection  of  all  the  Saints. 
Second,  we  learn  that  all  the  wicked  will  be  destroyed  from 
the  earth,  by  overwhelming  judgment  of  God,  and  by  fire  at 
the  time  of  His  coming,  insomuch  that  the  earth  will  be 
cleansed  by  fire  from  its  wicked  inhabitants,  as  it  was  once  by 
water ;  and  that  burning  will  include  priests  as  well  as  people : 
all  but  few  shall  be  burned.  This  burning  more  especially 
applies  to  the  fallen  church,  than  to  the  heathen  or  Jews, 
whom  they  are  now  trying  to  convert.  Woe  unto  you,  Gen- 
tiles, who  call  yourselves  the  people  of  the  Lord,  but  have 
made  void  the  law  of  God  by  your  traditions;  for  in  vain  do 
you  call,  Lord,  Lord,  and  do  not  the  things  which  Jesus  com- 
mands; in  vain  do  ye  worship  him,  teaching  for  doctrines  the 
commandments  of  man.  Behold  the  sword  of  vengeance  hangs 
over  you,  and  except  you  repent,  it  will  soon  fall  upon  you,Jand 
it  will  be  more  tolerable  in  that  day  for  the  Jews  and  heathen, 
than  for  you.  Behold  ye  flatter  yourselves  that  the  glorious 
day,  spoken  of  the  prophets,  will  be  ushered  in  by  your  modern 
inventions  and  pecuniary  plans,  which  are  got  up  in  order  to 
convert  the  Jews  and  heathen  to  the  various  sectarian  creeds 

(p)  Revelations  22  : 14, 


42  VOICE  OF 

now  existing  among  yourselves,  and  you  expect  when  this  is 
clone,  to  behold  a  Millenium  after  your  own  hearts.  But  the 
Jews  and  heathen  never  will  be  converted  as  peoples,  by  any 
other  plan  than  that  laid  down  in  the  "Bible  for  the  great  res- 
toration of  Israel.  And  you  yourselves  are  laboring  under  a 
broken  covenant,  and  ripening  for  the  fire  as  fast  as  possible. 
But  do  not  count'me  your  enemy  because  I  tell  you  the  truth ; 
for  God  is  rny  witness  that  I  love  your  souls  too  well  to  keep 
back  any  truth  from  you,  however  severe  it  may  seem.  The 
wounds  of  a  friend  are  better  than  the  kisses  of  an  enemy. 

Concerning  the  signs  of  the  time,  the  inquiry  often  arises, 
when  shall  these  things  be,  and  what  sign  shall  there  be  when 
these  things  shall  come  to  pass?  I  am  often  asked  the  ques- 
tion whether  it  is  near  at  hand;  I  will  therefore  tell  you  all, 
whereby  you  may  know  for  yourselves,  (and  not  to  depend  on 
the  knowledge  of  others),when  it  is  nigh,  even  at  the  doors. 

Now  you  behold  the  apple  tree,  and  all  the  trees,  when  they 
begin  to  shoot  forth  their  leaves,  ye  know  of  your  own  selves 
that  summer  is  nigh  at  hand;  and  so  likewise  when  ye  shall 
see  great  earthquakes,  famines,  pestilences,  and  plagues  of 
every  kind,  and  all  things  in  commotion;  like  the  sea  and  the 
waves  roaring:  the  nations  distressed  with  perplexity;  men's 
hearts  failing  them  for  fear,  and  for  looking  for  the  things 
which  are  coming  on  the  earth — when  you  see  signs  in  the 
heaven  above  and  in  the  earth  beneath,  blood,  and  fire,  and 
vapor  of  smoke;  the  sun  turned  to  darkness,  the  moon  to  blood, 
and  the  stars  hurled  from  their  courses — when  you  see  the 
Jews  gathering  to  Jerusalem,  and  the  armies  of  the  nations 
gathering  against  them  to  battle — you  may  know  with  a  per- 
fect knowledge  that  His  coming  is  near,  even  at  the  doors. 

"  Verily \  verily,  I  say  unto  yon,  this  generation  shall  not  pass  away  till 
all  be  fulfilled.  Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away,  but  my  words  shall 
not  pass  away"  (q) 

Whosoever  will  believe  the  words  of  the  prophets,  and  the 
sayings  of  Jesus  Christ,  on  this  subject,  will  be  convinced  that 
all  the  signs  of  which  I  have  spoken,  are  clearly  pointed  out 
as  the  signs  of  His  coming.  But,  notwithstanding  all  these 
things  are  written,  His  coming  will  overtake  the  world 
unawares,  as  the  flood  did  the  people  in  the  days  of  Noah. 
The  reason  is,  they  will  not  understand  the  prophets.  They 
will  not  endure  sound  doctrine;  their  ears  are  turned  away 
from  the  truth,  and  turned  to  fables,  because  of  false  teachers 
and  the  precepts  of  men;  and  what  is  still  worse,  when  God 

(q)  Matt.  24  :  34,  35. 


VOICE  OF  WARDING.  43 

sends  men  with  the  new  and  everlasting  covenant,  and  clothes 
them  with  boldness  to  testify  of  the  truth,  they  will  be  treated  as 
the  servants  of  God  have  been  before  them  by  the  fallen 
churches.  Every  church  will  cleave  to  its  own  way,  and  they 
will  unite  in  saying,  "There  is  no  need  of  these  new  things, 
the  good  old  way  is  right ;"  while  at  the  same  time  they  are 
walking  in  as  many  different  ways  as  there  are  sects,  and  only 
agreed  in  persecuting  and  speaking  all  manner  of  evil  against  the 
fishers  and  hunters  whom  God  shall  send.  But,  thank  heaven, 
there  are  individuals  in  every  sect  who  are  humbly  seeking  the 
truth,  and  who  will  know  the  voice  of  truth,  and  be  gathered 
out  and  planted  in  the  new  and  everlasting  covenant,  and  they 
will  be  adopted  into  the  family  of  Israel,  and  will  be  gath- 
ered with  them,  and  be  partakers  of  the  same  covenant  of 
promise.  Yea,  as  Jeremiah  says, — 

"The  Gentiles  shall  come  unto  thee  from  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and 
shall  gay,  Surely  our  fathers  have  inherited  lies,  vanities,  and  things 
wherein  there  is  no  profit.11  (r) 

But,  as  the  Jews  overlooked  His  first  coming,  by  not  under- 
standing the  prophets,  and  by  concentrating  their  minds  exclu- 
sively on  His  glorious  coming  in  the  last  days  to  restore  the 
kingdom  to  Israel,  and  avenge  them  of  their  enemies;  and  by 
this  mistake  were  broken  and  scattered:  so  the  Gentiles  will 
overlook  the  prophecies  concerning,his  second  coming,  by  con- 
founding them  with  the  last  judgment,  which  is  to  take  place 
more  than  a  thousand  years  afterward.  But  this  fatal  mistake, 
instead  of  causing  the  Gentiles  to  be  broken  and  scattered, 
will  cause  them  to  be  ground  to  powder. 

0!  my  brethren  according  to  the  flesh,  my  soul  mourns 
over  you;  and  had  I  a  voice  like  a  trumpet,  I  would  cry,  awake, 
awake,  and  arouse  from  your  slumbers,  for  the  time  is  fulfilled, 
your  destruction  is  at  the  door: — 

"For  I  have  heard  from  the  Lord  God  of  hosts,  a  consumption,  even 
determined  upon  the  whole  earth.1'  (s) 

Prepare  to  meet  your  God !  And  again,  awake,  0 !  house 
of  Israel,  and  lift  up  your  head,  for  your  redemption  draweth 
nigh :  Yea,  depart  ye,  depart  ye,  go  ye  out  from  hence,  gather 
home  from  your  long  dispersion;  rebuild  your  cities;  yea,  go 
ye  out  from  the  nations,  from  one  end  of  heaven  to  the  other; 
but  let  not  your  flight  be  in  haste,  for  the  Lord  shall  go  before 
you,  and  the  God  of  Israel  shall  be  your  rearward.  And  finally, 
I  would  say  to  all,  both  Jews  and  Gentiles,  repent  ye,  repent 

(r)  Jeremiah  1C  :  19.    (*)  Isaiah  28  :  22. 


44  VOICE  OF 

ye,  for  the  great  day  of  the  Lord  is  at  hand.  For  if  I,  who 
am  a  man,  do  lift  up  my  voice,  and  call  upon  you  to  repent, 
and  ye  hate  me,  what  will  ye  say  when  the  day  cometh,  when 
the  thunders  shall  utter  their  voices  to  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
speaking  to  the  ears  of  all  that  live,  saying,  "Repent,  and  pre- 
pare for  the  great  day  of  the  Lord."  Yea,  again,  when  the 
lightnings  shall  streak  forth  from  the  east  unto  the  west,  and 
shall  utter  forth  their  voices  unto  all  that  live,  and  make  the 
ears  of  all  that  hear  to  tingle,  saying  these  words:  "Repent 
ye,  for  the  great  day  of  the  Lord  is  come."  And  again,  the 
Lord  shall  utter  his  voice  out  of  the  heaven,  saying, — 

"Harken,  0  ye  nations  of  the  earth,  and  hear  the  words  of  that  God 
who  made  you ;  0  ye  nations  of  the  earth,  how  often  would  I  have  gath- 
ered you  together  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her  wings,  but 
ye  would  not." 

"How  often  have  I  called  upon  you  by  the  mouth  of  my  servants,  and 
by  the  ministering  of  angels,  and  by  mine  own  voice,  and  by  the  voice 
of  thunderings,  and  by  the  voice  of  lightnings,  and,  by  the  voice  of  tem- 
pests, and  by  the  voice  of  earthquakes  and  great  hailstorms,  and  by  the 
voice  of  famine,  and  pestilences  of  every  kind,  and  by  the  great  sound  of 
a  trumpet,  and  by  the  voice  of  judgments,  and  by  the  voice  of  mercy,  all 
the  day  long,  and  by  the  voice  of  glory  and  honor,  and  the  riches  of 
eternal  life;  and  would  have  saved  you  with  an  everlasting  salvation, 
but  you  would  not.15 

"Behold  the  day  has  come,  when  the  cup  of  the  wrath  of  mine  indig- 
nation is  full." 


CHAPTER  II  [. 

THE   KINGDOM   OF   GOD. 

"Seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God."  This  was  the  command 
of  the  Savior  while  He  was  on  the  earth,  teaching  the  children  of 
men. 

Having  taken  a  general  view  of  the  fulfilled  and  unfulfilled 
prophecies,  we  will  now  search  for  the  kingdom  of  God.  I 
would  again  ask  the  reader  if  he  is  prepared  to  sacrifice  every 
thing,  even  his  good  nanie,  and  his  life  itself,  if  necessary,  as 
a  sacrifice  for  the  truth;  for  if  he  should  once  get  a  view  of 
the  kingdom  of  God,  he  will  be  so  delighted  that  he  will  never 
rest  satisfied  without  becoming  a  citizen  of  the  same.  It  will 
be  so  unlike  every  other  system  of  religion  now  on  earth,  that 


VOICE  OF  WARNING-.  45 

he  will  be  astonished  that  any  person  with  the  Bible  in  his 
hand,  should  ever  [have  mistaken  any  of  the  systems  of  men, 
for  the  kingdom  of  God.  There  are  certain  powers,  privileges 
and  blessings,  pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of  God,  which  are 
found  in  no  other  kingdom,  nor  enjoyed  by  any  other  people. 
By  these  things  it  was  always  distinguished  from  all  other 
kingdoms  and  systems,  insomuch  that  the  inquirer  who  is 
seeking  the  kingdom  of  God.  being  once  acquainted  with  these 
peculiarites  concerning  it,  need  never  mistake;  nor  be  at  a  IOES 
to  know  when  he  has  found  it.  Before  we  proceed  any  farther 
in  our  research,  let  us  agree  upon  the  meaning  of  the  term,  or 
the  sense  in  which  we  will  use  it;  for  some  apply  this  term 
to  the  kingdom  of  glory  above,  and  some  to  the  individual 
enjoyments  of  their  own  souls,  while  others  apply  it  to  His 
organized  government  on  the  earth.  Now  when  we  speak  of 
the  kingdom  of  God,  we  wish  to  be  understood  as  speaking  of 
His  organized  government  on  the  earth. 

Let  us  consider:  What  is  a  kingdom?  I  reply,  that  four 
things  are  requisite  to  constitute  any  kingdom,  in  heaven  or 
on  earth:  namely,  first,  a  king;  secondly,  commissioned  offi- 
cers duly  qualified  to  execute  his  ordinances  and  laws;  third- 
ly, a  code  of  la\vs  by  which  the  citizens  are  governed;  and 
fourthly,  subjects  who  are  governed.  Now,  where  these  exist 
in  their  proper  order  and  regular  authority,  there  is  a  king- 
dom ;  but  where  either  of  these  ceases  to  exist,  there  is  a  dis- 
organization of  the  kingdom,  consequently  an  end  of  the  king- 
dom, until  it  is  reorganized  after  the  same  manner  as  before. 
Now  in  this  respect,  the  kingdom  of  God  is  like  all  other 
kingdoms;  wheresoever  we  find  officers  duly  commissioned 
and  qualified  by  the  Lord  Jesus,  together  with  his  ordinances 
and  laws  existing  in  purity,  unmixed  with  any  precepts  or 
commandments  of  men,  there  the  kingdom  of  God  exists;  and 
there  his  power  is  manifest,  and  his  blessings  enjoyed  as  in 
days  of  old. 

"We  shall  now  take  a  view  of  the  setting  up  of  the  kingdom 
of  God  in  the  days  of  the  ancient  apostles.  The  first  inti- 
mation of  its  near  approach  was  by  an  angel  to  Zechariah, 
promising  him  a  son,  who  should  go  before  the  king  to  pre- 
pare his  way.  The  next  manifestation  was  to  Mary,  and 
then  to  Joseph,  by  an  holy  angel,  promising  the  birth  of  the 
Messiah;  while  at  the  same  time  the  Holy  Ghost  manifested 
unto  Simeon  that  he  should  not  die  until  he  had  seen  the 
Savior.  Thus,  all  tljese,  together  with  the  shepherds  and  the 


46  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

wise  men  from  the  east,  began  to  rejoice  with  a  joy  unspeakable 
and  full  of  glory,  while  the  world  around  them  knew  not  the 
occasion  of  their  joy.  After  these  things,  all  seemed  to  rest 
in  silent  expectation,  until  John  had  grown  to  manhood.  "In 
those  days  came  John  the  Baptist,  preaching  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  Judea  and  saying,  Repent  ye  for  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  at  hand."  He  baptized  unto  repentance,  telling 
them  plainly  that  their  king  was  already  standing  among  them, 
and  would  set  up  his  kingdom.  And  while  he  yet  ministered, 
the  Messiah  came,  and  was  baptized  and  sealed  with  the 
Spirit  of  God,  which  rested  upon  Him  in  the  form  of  a  dove; 
and  soon  after  he  began  the  same  proclamation  as  John,  say- 
ing, "Repent  ye,  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand."  Soon 
after,  he  chose  twelve  apostles  and  sent  them  forth  into  all 
the  cities  of  Judea,  with  the  same  proclamation,  "the  kingdom 
of  heaven  is  at  hand;"  and  after  them  He  sent  seventy  elders, 
and  another  seventy,  with  the  same  news,  so  that  all  might  be 
well  warned  and  prepared  for  a  kingdom,  which  was  soon  to 
be  organized  amongst  them.  But  when  these  things  had  pro- 
duced the  desired  effect,  in  causing  a  general  expectation,  more 
especially  in  the  hearts  of  his  disciples,  who  daily  expected  to 
triumph  over  their  persecutors,  by  the  coronation  of  this 
glorious  personage,  while  they  themselves  were  hoping  for  a 
reward  for  all  their  toil  and  sacrifices  for  his  sake,  by  being 
exalted  to  dignity  near  his  person,  what  must  have  been  their 
disappointment,  when  they  saw  their  king  taken  and  crucified, 
being  mocked,  derided,  ridiculed,  and  finally  overcome  and 
triumphed  over  both  by  Jew  and  Gentile  ?  They  would  glad- 
ly have  died  in  battle  to  have  placed  him  upon  the  throne; 
but  tamely  to  submit  without  a  struggle,  to  give  up  all  their 
expectations,  and  sink  in  despair,  from  the  highest  pitch  of 
enthusiasm  to  the  lowest  degradation,  was  more  than  they 
could  well  endure.  They  shrunk  back  in  sorrow,  and  turned 
every  man  unto  his  net,  or  to  their  several  occupations,  sup- 
posing that  all  was  lost ;  probably  with  reflections  like  theee : 
"Is  this  the  result  of  all  our  labors?  Was  it  for  this  we  for- 
sook all  wordly  objects,  our  friends,  our  houses  and  lands, 
suffering  persecution,  hunger,  fatigue,  and  disgrace?  We 
trusted  that  it  would  have  been  He  who  would  have  delivered 
Israel;  but  alas,  they  have  killed  him,  and  all  is  lost.  For 
three  years  we  have  awakened  a  general  expectation  through 
all  Judea,  by  telling  them  that  the  kingdom  of  heaven  was  at 
hand,  but  now  our  Icing  is  dead,  how  shall  we  dare  to  look 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  47 

the  people  in  the  face  ?"  With  these  reflections,  each  pursu- 
in<r  his  own  course,  all  was  again  turned  to  silence,  and  the 
vofce  had  ceased  to  be  heard  in  Judea,  crying,  "Repent  ye  for 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand."  Jesus  slept  in  the  arms 
of  death;  a  great  stone  with  the  seal  of  state  secured  the  tomb 
where  he  lay,  while  the  Roman  guard  stood  in  watchful 
silence,  to  see  that  all  was  kept  secure,  when  suddenly  from 
the  regions  of  glory,  a  mighty  angel  descended,  at  whose 
presence  the  soldiers  fell  back  as  dead  men,  while  he  rolled 
the  stone  from  the  door  of  the  sepulchre,  and  the  Son  of  Grod 
awoke  from  his  slumbers,  burst  the  bands  of  death,  and  soon 
after  appearing  to  Mary,  He  sonfc  her  to  the  disciples  with  the 
joyful  news  of  His  resurrection,  and  appointed  a  place  to  meet 
them.  After  seeing  Him,  all  their  sorrow  was  turned  into 
joy,  and  all  their  former  hopes  were  suddenly  revived.  They 
had  no  longer  to  cry,  "The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand," 
but  were  to  tarry  at  Jerusalem,  until  they  should  be  endowed 
with  power  from  on  high.  Then  the  kingdom  was  establish- 
ed, and  they  unlocked  the  door  of  the  kingdom,  and  adopted 
strangers  and  foreigners  into  it  as  legal  citizens,  by  administer- 
ing certain  laws  and  ordinances,  which  were  invariably  the 
laws  of  adoption  ;  without  which  no  man  could  ever  become  a 
citizen.  After  His  resurrection,  He  came  to  His  disciples 
and  gave  them  their  authority,  saying  unto  them: 

"Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature. 
He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved,  but  he  that  believeth 
not  shall  be  damned :  and  these  signs  shall  follow  them  that  believe :  in 
my  name  shall  they  cast  out  devils ;  they  shall  speak  with  new  tongues ; 
they  shall  take  up  serpents ;  and  if  they  drink  any  deadly  thing  it  shall 
not  hurt  them;  they  shall  lay  hands  on  the  sick  and  they  shall  recover;1' 

(0. 

Now,  I  wish  the  reader  would  never  forget  this  commission, 
until  he  understands  it,  because  when  he  understands  it,  he 
never  need  mistake  the  kingdom  of  God,  but  will  at  once  dis- 
cover those  peculiarities,  which  were  forever  to  distinguish  it 
from  all  other  kingdoms  or  religious  systems  on  earth;  and 
lest  he  should  misunderstand  it,  we  will  analyze  it,  and  look 
at  each  part  carefully  in  its  own  proper  light.  First,  they 
were  to  preach  the  gospel,  (or  in  other  words,  the  glad  tidings 
of  a  crucified  and  risen  Redeemer),  to  all  the  world.  Secondly, 
he  that  believeth  and  is  baptized,  shall  be  saved.  Thirdly, 
he  that  did  not  believe  what  they  preached  should  be  damned ; 
and  fourthly,  these  signs  should  follow  them  that  believe: 
first,  they  are  to  cast  out  devils;  second,  to  speak  with  new 

(0  Mark  1C  :  lo~lg. 


48  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

tongues;  third,  to  take  up  serpents;  fourth,  if  they  drink  any 
deadly  thing,  it  shall  not  hurt  them;  fifth,  they  were  to  lay 
hands  on  the  sick,  and  they  should  recover. 

If  he  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  in  our  day  shall  be 
saved,  and  if  he  that  believeth  not  in  our  day  shall  be  damned, 
then  these  signs  follow  them  that  believe  in  our  day.  That 
commission  contains  the  unchangeable  conditions  of  salvation, 
for  there  is  no  provision  made  in  the  scriptures  for  a  change 
in  those  conditions,  or  in  the  blessings  which  were  promised 
by  the  Savior  to  those  who  should  obey  his  gospel. 

Now  it  is  willful  blindness,  or  ignorance  of  the  English  lan- 
guage, that  has  ever  caused  any  misunderstanding  here.  For 
some  do  tell  us  that  those  signs  were  only  to  follow  the  apostles ; 
and  others  tell  us  that  they  were  only  to  f< jllow  believers  of 
that  age.  But  Christ  places  the  preaching,  the  believing,  the 
salvation,  and  the  signs  that  were  to  follow,  all  on  an  equal  foot- 
ing. Where  one  was  limited  the  other  must  be ;  where  one 
ceased,  the  other  did.  If  the  language  limits  these  signs  to 
the  apostles,  it  limits  faith  and  salvation  also  to  them.  If  no 
others  were  to  have  these  signs  follow  them,  then  no  others 
were  to  believe,  and  no  others  were  to  be  saved.  If  this  com- 
mission limits  these  signs  to  the  first  age  or  ages  of  Christi- 
anity, then  it  limits  salvation  to  the  first  ages  of  Christianity; 
for  one  is  precisely  as  much  limited  as  the  other;  and  where 
one  is  in  force  the  other  is,  and  where  one  ends  the  other 
must.  And  as  well  might  we  say  that  preaching  of  the  gospel  is 
no  longer  needed;  faith  is  no  longer  needed;  salvation  is  no 
longer  needed;  they  were  only  given  at  first  to  establish  the 
gospel,  as  to  say  these  signs  are  no  longer  necessary,  they  were 
only  given  at  first  to  establish  the  gospel.  But,  says  the  as- 
tonished reader,  have  not  these  signs  ceased  from  among  men? 
I  reply,  prove  that  they  have  ceased,  and  it  will4prova^that 
the  gospel  has  ceased  to  be  preached,  and  that  men  have 
ceased  to  believe  and  be  saved,  and  that  the  world  is  without 
the  kingdom  of  God;  or  else  it  will  prove  that J Jesus  Christ 
was  an  impostor,  and  his  promises  of  no  effect. 

Now,  having  analyzed  and  understood  this  commission,  let 
us  still  pursue  the  subject  of  the  organization  of  the  kingdom 
of  God,  in  the  days  of  the  apostles.  The  Savior  having  given 
them  their  authority,  commanded  them  to  tarry  and  not  un- 
dertake their  mission,  until  they  were  endowed  with  power 
from  on  high.  But  why  this  delay?  Because  no  man  was 
pver  qualified,  or  ever  will  be,  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  teach 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  49 

all  tilings  whatsoever  Jesus  commanded  them,  without  the 
Holy  Ghost;  and  a  very  different  Holy  Ghost  too,  from  the 
one  now  enjoyed  by  men  who  are  not  inspired,  for  the  Holy 
Ghost  of  which  Jesus  spake  would  guide  into  all  truth,  bring 
all  things  to  remembrance,  whatsoever  he  had  said  unto  them, 
and  show  them  things  to  come,  and  enable  them  to  speak  in 
other  tongues.  Now  a  man  who  preaches  needs  the  Holy 
Ghost  very  much;  first,  to  guide  into  all  truth,  that  he  may 
know  what  to  teach;  second,  to  strengthen  his  memory,  lest 
he  might  neglect  to  teach  some  of  the  things  which  were  com- 
manded them;  and  third,  he  needs  it  to  know  things  to  come, 
(and  that  would  constitute  him  a  prophet),  that  he  might 
forwarn  his  hearers  of  approaching  danger.  From  this,  the 
reader  may  see  how  careful  Jesus  was,  that  none  should  preach 
his  gospel  without  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  may  also  learn  how 
different  the  Spirit  of  truth  is,  from  the  spirits  now  abroad  in 
the  earth,  deceiving  the  world,  under  the  name  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  If  the  churches  of  the  present  day  have  the  Holy 
Ghost,  why  are  they  so  much  at  a  loss  to  understand  truth? 
Why  do  they  walk  in  so  many  different  ways  and  doctrines? 
Why  do  they  need  whole  libraries  of  sermons,  tracts,  divinities, 
debates,  arguments  and  opinions,  all  written  by  the  wisdom  of 
men,  without  even  professing  to  be  inspired?  Well  doth  the 
Lord  complain,  saying,  "their  fear  toward  me  is  taught  by 
the  precept  of  men." 

But  to  return,  the  apostles  tarried  at  Jerusalem,  until  they 
were  endowed  with  power,  and  then  they  commenced  to  pro- 
claim the  gospel.  We  have  found  that  there  is  in  the  king- 
dom of  God,  first,  a  king  crowned  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 
to  whom,  is  committed  all  power  in  heaven  and  on  earth; 
second,  commissioned  officers,  duly  appointed  to  administer 
the  affairs  of  government;  third,  the  laws  by  which  they  were 
to  be  governed,  which  are  ALL  THINGS  WHATSOEVER  JESUS 

HAD  COMMANDED  HIS  DISCIPLES  TO  TEACH  THEM. 

And  now  if  we  can  find  how  men  became  citizens  of  that 
kingdom,  in  that  age,  should  we  not  be  dissatisfied  with  every 
thing  in  our  age,  which  is  represented  to  be  the  kingdom  of 
God,  and  which  is  not  according  to  the  pattern?  * 

There  were  no  natural  born  subjects  of  the  kingdom  of  God, 
except  infants.  Jesus  said,  "Suffer  little  children  to  come 
unto  me  and  forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven/'  When  they  arrive  to  years  of  accountability  they 
lose  their  citizenship  in  the  kingdom,  unless  they  are  born  of 


50  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

water  and  of  the  Spirit.  Except  infants,  both  Jews  and  Gen- 
tiles are  included  in  sin  and  unbelief;  and  none  can  be  citi- 
zens without  the  law  of  adoption,  and  all  that  believed  on  the 
name  of  the  king,  could  be  adopted :  but  there  was  but  one 
invariable  rule  or  plan  by  which  they  were  adopted;  and  all 
that  undertook  to  claim  citizenship  in  any  other  way  what- 
ever, were  counted  thieves  and  robbers,  and  could  never  ob- 
tain the  seal  of  adoption.  This  rule  was  laid  down  in  the 
Savior's  teaching  to  Nicodemus,  namely : 

"Except  a  man  be  born  of  water,  [that  is  baptized  in  water],  and  of  the 
Spirit,  [that  is  baptized  with  the  Spirit],  he  cannot  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  God." 

Now  to  Peter,  James  and  John,  were  given  the  keys  of  the 
kingdom,  therefore  it  was  their  duty  to  open  the  kingdom  to 
the  Jews,  and  to  the  Gentiles.  We  will  therefore  carefully 
examine  the  manner  in  which  Peter  did  adopt  the  Jews  into 
the  kingdom  on  the  day  of  Pentecost. 

Now  when  the  multitude  came  running  together  on  the  day 
of  Pentecost,  the  apostle  Peter  reasoned  with  them  from  the 
scriptures,  testifying  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  his  resurrection  and 
ascension  on  high,  insomuch  that  many  became  convinced  of 
the  truth  and  enquired  what  they  should  do.  These  were 
not  Christians,  but  they  were  people  who  were  then  convinced 
that  Jesus  was  the  Christ,  and  because  they  were  convinced 
of  this  fact,  they  inquired,  "What  shall  we  do  ?"  Then  Peter 
said  unto  them: 

"Repent  and  be  baptized,  every  one  of  yon,  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ,  for  the  remission  of  sins,  and  you  shall  receive  the  gift  of  the 
Holy  Ghost;  for  the  promise  is  unto  yon  and  your  children,  and  to  all 
that  are  afar  off,  even  as  many  as  the  Lord  our  God  shall  call." 

Reader,  do  you  understand  this  proclamation  ?  If  you  do 
you  will  see  that  this  gospel  is  not  generally  preached  in  our 
day.  Let  us  therefore  analyze  and  examine  it,  sentence  by 
sentence.  You  recollect  they  already  believed,  and  the  next 
thing  was  for  them  to  repent:  first,  faith;  second,  repentance; 
third,  baptism;  fourth,  remission  of  sins;  and  fifth,  the  Holy 
Ghost.  This  was  the  order  of  the  gospel.  Faith  gave  the 
power  to  become  sons,  or  citizens;  repentance  and  baptism  in 
his  name,  for  the  remission  of  sins,  was  the  obedience  through 
which  they  were  adopted;  and  the  Holy  Spirit  of  promise  was 
the  seal  of  their  adoption,  and  this  they  were  sure  to  receive 
after  they  obeyed.  Now,  reader,  where  do  you  hear  such 
preaching  in  our  day?  Who  teaches  that  those  who  believe 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  51 

and  repent,  should  be  baptized,  and  none  others?  Perhaps 
the  reader  may  say  the  Baptists  do;  but  do  they  call  upon 
men  to  be  baptized  as  soon  as  they  believe  and  repent?  And, 
moreover,  do  they  promise  the  remission  of  sins,  with  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Ghost?  Recollect  now,  what  effect  the  Holy 
Ghost  has  upon  people  who  receive  it.  It  will  guide  them 
into  all  truth,  strengthen  the  memory,  and  show  them  things 
to  come.  And  Joel  has  said  it  will  cause  them  to  dream 
dreams,  to  see  visions,  and  to  prophesy.  O  my  reader,  where 
do  you  find  a  gospel  like  this  preached  among  men  ?  Would 
men  go  mourning  for  weeks  upon  weeks,  without  the  forgive- 
ness of  sins,  or  the  comfort  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  if  Peter  stood 
among  us  to  tell  us  precisely  how  to  get  such  blessings  ?  Now 
what  would  you  think  of  a  camp-meeting,  where  three  thous- 
and men  should  come  forward  to  be  prayed  for,  and  one  of 
the  ministers  should  (Peter  like)  command  them  every  one  to 
repent  and  be  baptized  for  the  remission  of  sins,  promising 
that  all  who  obeyed,  should  receive  the  remission  of  sins  and 
the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  should  cause  them  to  dream 
dreams  and  prophesy;  and  then  should-arise  with  his  brethren 
of  the  same  calling,  and  the  same  hour  commence  baptizing, 
and  continue  until  they  had  baptized  them  all ;  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  should  fall  upon  them,  and  they  begin  to  see  visions, 
speak  in  other  tongues  and  prophesy  ?  Would  not  the  news 
go  abroad  far  and  wide  that  a  new  doctrine  had  made  its  ap- 
pearance, quite  different  from  any  thing  now  practiced  among 
men  ?  0  yes,  says  the  reader,  this  to  be  sure  would  be  some- 
thing new,  and  very  strange  to  all  of  us.  Well,  strange  as  it 
may  seem,  it  is  the  gospel  which  was  preached  by  Peter  on 
the  day  of  Pentecost,  and  Paul  declared  that  ho  preached  the 
same  gospel  that  Peter  did,  and  he  also  said,  ^Though  we,  or 
an  angel  from  heaven,  preach  any  other  gospel,  let  him  be 
accursed."  Now  the  reader  need  no  longer  be  astonished  to 
see  that  these  signs  do  not  follow  them  that  believe  another 
gospel,  or  doctrine,  different  from  that  preached  by  the 
apostles. 

But  now  let  us  returnjx)  the  kingdom  of  God  organized  in 
the  days  of  the  apostles.  You  discover  that  three  thousand 
persons  were  adopted  into  the  kingdom  on  the  first  day  that 
the  door  was  opened.  These,  together  with  the  numerous  ad- 
ditions which  were  after  war  dsjmade,  were  the  subjects  of  this 
kingdom;  which,  being~ fitly  framed  together,  grew  unto  an 
holy  temple  in  the  Lord.  *Thiis  we  have  cleared  away  the 


52  VOICE  OF  WARNING, 

rubbish  of  sectarian  tradition  and  superstition,  which  arose 
in  heaps  around  us;  and  having  searched  carefully,  we  have 
at  length  discovered  the  kingdom  of  God,  as  it  existed  at  its 
first  organization,  in  the  days  of  the  apostles;  and  we  have 
seen  that  it  differs  widely  from  all  modern  systems  of  religion, 
both  in  its  offices,  ordinances,  powers,  and  privileges,  insomuch 
that  no  man  need  ever  mistake  the  one  for  the  other. 

Having  made  this  discovery,  we  shall  proceed  to  examine 
the  progress  of  that  kingdom  among  Jews  and  Gentiles;  and 
what  were  its  fruits,  and  what  were  the  gifts  and  blessings 
which  were  enjoyed  by  its  citizens. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  kingdom  of  God  at  Jeru- 
salem, Philip  came  to  Samaria,  and  there  preached  the  gospel; 
and  when  they  believed  Philip,  they  were  baptized,  both  men 
and  women,  and  had  great  joy.  And  afterwards  Peter  and 
John  came  from  Jerusalem,  and  prayed  and  laid  their  hands 
on  them,  and  they  received  the  Holy  Ghost.  Mark  here, 
they  first  believed,  and  then  were  baptized,  having  great  joy, 
and  yet  had  not  received  the  Holy  Ghost.  But  that  was 
given  afterwards,  by  the  laying  on  of  hands  and  prayer,  in 
the  name  of  Jesus.  0,  how  different  from  the  systems  of 
men  ! 

Witness  Paul's  conversion  while  on  his  journey  to  Damas- 
cus. The  Lord  Jesus  appeared  to  him  in  the  way,  but  in- 
stead of  telling  him  that  his  sins  were  forgiven,  and  pouring 
the  Holy  Ghost  upon  him.  He  sent  him  to  Damascus,  telling 
him  that  it  should  there  be  told  him  what  he  should  do;  and, 
coming  to  Damascus,  Ananias  being  sent,  commanded  him  not 
to  tarry,  but  to  "arise  and  be  baptized  and  wash  away  his 
sins,  calling  on  the  name  of  the  Lord."  Then  he  arose  and 
was  baptized,  and  was  even  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
straightway  preached  that  Jesus  was  the  Christ. 

Witness  Peter  going  to  Cornelius,  a  Gentile  of  great  piety, 
whose  prayers  were  heard,  and  whose  alms  were  remembered, 
and  who  had  even  attained  to  the  ministering  of  an  angel; 
yet  with  all  his  piety,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  poured  out  upon 
him  and  his  friends  before  they  were  baptized,  they  must  be 
baptized,  or  they  could  not  be  saved.  Why?  Because  the 
Lord  had  commanded  the  apostles  to  preach  to  every  creature, 
and  every  creature  who  would  not  believe  and  be  baptized, 
should  be  damned,  without  one  exception.  Witness  the  words 
of  the  angel  to  Cornelius:  "He  [Peter]  shall  tell  you  word?, 
whereby  thou  and  all  thy  house  may  be  saved." 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  53 

Query. —tCould  Cornelius  have  been  saved  without  obeying 
the  words  of  Peter?  If  so,  the  angel's  errand  was  in  vain. 

Now,  perhaps  a  minister  who  should  find  a  man  as  good  as 
Cornelius  was,  would  say  to  him,  Go  on,  brother,  you  can  be 
saved,  you  have  experienced  religion,  you  may  indeed  be  bap- 
tized to  answer  a  good  conscience,  if  you  feel  that  it  is  your 
duty,  or  if  not,  it  makes  no  difference,  for  a  new  heart  is  all 
that  is  really  necessary  to  salvation.  As  much  as  to  say  that 
the  commandments  of  Jesus  are  not  absolutely  necessary  to 
salvation,  and  that  a  man  may  call  him  Lord,  Lord,  and  be 
saved  just  as  well  as  by  keeping  his  commandments.  0,  vain 
and  foolish  doctrine!  0,  ye  children  of  men,  how  have  you 
perverted  the  gospel!  In  vain  do  you  call  him  Lord,  Lord, 
and  do  not  obey  his  commandments. 

Next  we  call  to  mind  the  jailer  and  his  household,  who 
were  baptized  in  the  same  hour  that  they  believed,  without 
waiting  for  the  light  of  day;  and  Lydia  and  her  household, 
who  attended  to  the  ordinance  the  first  sermon  they  heard  on 
the  subject;  also  Philip  and  the  eunuch,  who  stopped  the 
chariot  at  the  first  water  they  came  to,  in  order  to  attend  to 
the  ordinance,  and  he  had  only  heard  of  Jesus  a  few  min- 
utes before.  Now,  I  gather  from  all  those  examples  of  ancient 
days,  and  from  the  precepts  laid  down  in  them,  that  baptism 
was  the  initiating  ordinance  by  which  all  those  who  believed 
and  repented  were  received  and  adopted  into  the  church  or 
kingdom  of  God,  so  as  to  be  entitled  to  the  remission  of  sins, 
and  the  blessings  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Indeed  it  was  the  or- 
dinance through  which  they  became  sons  and  daughters;  and 
because  they  were  sons  the  Lord  shed  forth  the  Spirit  of  his 
Son  into  their  hearts;  crying  Abba,  Father.  It  is  true  that 
the  Lord  poured  out  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  Cornelius  and  his 
friends,  before  they  were  baptized,  but  it  seemed  necessary  in 
order  to  convince  the  believing  Jews  that  the  Gentiles  also 
had  part  in  this  salvation.  After  the  apostles  commenced  to 
preach,  I  believe  this  is  the  only  instance  in  the  whole  record, 
of  people  receiving  the  Holy  Ghost  without  first4  obeying  the 
laws  of  adoption.  But  mark!  Obeying  the  laws  of  adoption 
would  not  constitute  a  man  an  heir  of  the  kingdom — a  citizen 
entitled  to  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit,  unless  these  laws  and  ordi- 
nances were  administered  by  one  who  had  proper  authority, 
and  was  duly  commissioned  from  the  king;  and  a  commission 
given  to  one  individual  could  never  authorize  another  to  act 
in  his  stead.  This  is  one  of  the  most  important  points,  and  it 


64  VOICE  of 

should  be  understood,  for  it  brings  to  test  every  minister  in 
Christendom;  and  shows  the  illegality  of  the  organization  of 
every  church  on  earth,  and  all  that  have  existed  since  direct 
.inspiration  ceased. 

Now  in  order  to  understand  this  subject  in  plainness,  let 
us  examine  the  constitutions  of  earthly  governments,  in  regard 
to  the  authority  and  laws  of  adoption.  We  will  say  for  in- 
stance, the  king  or  chief  ruler  of  a  nation,  writes  a  commission 
to  A.  B.,  duly  authorizing  him  to  act  in  some  office  in  the 
government;  and,  during  his  administration,  two  gentlemen 
from  another  nation  come  to  reside  in  that  nation,  and,  being 
strangers  and  foreigners,  to  become  citizens,  they  go  before 
A.  B.  and  he  administers  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  due  form, 
and  certifies  the  same,  and  this  constitutes  them  legal  citizens, 
entitled  to  all  privileges  of  natural  born  citizens,  or  subjects. 

After  these  things  A.  B.  dies,  and  C.  "D.  in  looking  over 
.his  papers  happens  to  find  the  commission  given  to  A.  B, 
and,  applying  it  to  his  own  use,  assumes  the  vacant  office. 
Then  two  foreigners  arrive  and  apply  for  citizenship,  and  be- 
ing informed  by  persons  ignorant  of  the  affairs  of  government, 
that  C.  D.  could  administer  the  laws  of  adoption,  they  submit 
to  be  administered  unto  by  C.  D.,  without  once  examining  his 
authority;  C.  D.  certifies  of  their  citizenship,  and  they  sup- 
pose they  have  been  legally  adopted,  the  same  as  the  others, 
and  are  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  citizenship,  but  by  and 
by  their  citizenship  is  called  in  question,  and  they  produce 
the  certificate  of  C.  D.  The  king  or  chief  ruler  inquires, 
'•Who  is  C.  D.?  I  never  gave  him  a  commission  to  act  in  any 
office,  I  know  him  not,  and  you  are  strangers  and  foreigners 
to  the  commonwealth,  until  you  go  before  the  legally  appointed 
successor  of  A.  B.,  or  some  other  like  authority  who  has  a 
commission  from  me  direct,  in  my  own  name."  In  the  mean 
time,  C.  D.  is  taken  and  punished  according  to  law  for  prac- 
ticing imposition  and  usurping  authority  which  was  never 
conferred  upon  him.  And  so  it  is  with  the  kingdom  of  God. 
The  Lord  authorized  the  Apostles  and  others  by  direct  reve- 
lation, and  by  the  spirit  of  prophecy,  to  preach  and  baptize, 
and  build  up  his  church  and  kingdom;  but  after  awhile  they 
died,  and  a  long  time  passed  away,  and  men  reading  over  their 
commission,  where  it  says  to  the  eleven  Apostles,  "Go  ye  into 
all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature/'  etc., 
they  have  had  the  presumption  to  apply  these  sayings  as  their 
authority,  and  without  any  other  commission  have  gone  forth 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  55 

professing  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  baptize,  and  build  up  the 
church  and  kingdom  of  God;  but  those  whom  they  baptize, 
never  receive  the  same  blessings  and  gifts  which  characterized 
the  Saints  who  were  citizens  of  the  kingdom  in  the  days  of 
the  Apostles.  Why?  Because  they  are  yet  foreigners  and 
strangers,  for  the  commission  given  to  the  Apostles  never 
commissioned  any  other  man  to  act  in  their  stead.  This  is  a 
prerogative  the  Lord  has  reserved  unto  himself.  No  man  has 
a  right  to  take  this  ministry  upon  himself,  but  he  that  is  called 
by  revelation  and  duly  qualified  to  act  in  his  calling,  by  the 
Holy  Ghost.  But  some  may  say  with  astonishment,  "What? 
are  none  of  all  the  ministers  of  the  present  day  called  to  the 
ministry,  and  legally  commissioned?" — Well,  my  reader,  I 
will  tell  you  how  you  may  ascertain  from  their  own  mouths, 
and  that  will  be  far  better  than  for  me  to  answer.  Go  to  the 
clergy,  and  ask  them  if  God  has  given  any  direct  revelation 
since  the  New  Testament  was  finished;  inquire  of  them  wheth- 
er the  gift  of  prophecy  ceased  with  the  early  age  of  the 
Church;  and,  in  short,  ask  them  if  revelations,  prophets,  the 
ministering  of  angels,  etc.,  are  needed  or  expected  in  these 
days,  or  whether  they  believe  that  these  things  are  done  away 
no  more  to  return  to  the  earth?  And  their  answer  will  be, 
that  the  Bible  contains  sufficient,  and  that  since  the  canon  of 
Scripture  was  filled  revelation  has  ceased,  the  Spirit  of  proph- 
ecy has  ceased,  and  the  ministering  of  angels  has  ceased,  be- 
cause they  are  no  longer  needed.  In  short,  they  will  denounce 
every  man  as  an  impostor  who  pretends  to  any  such  thing ; 
and  when  you  have  obtained  this  answer,  ask  them  how  they, 
themselves,  were  called  and  commissioned  to  preach  the  gospel, 
and  they  will  be  at  a  loss  to  answer  you,  and  will  finally  tell 
you  the  Bible  commissioned  them,  saying,  "Go  ye  into  all  the 
world,"  etc.  Thus  you  see  all  who  have  no  direct  revelation 
from  the  king  of  heaven  to  themselves,  neither  by  angels,  nor 
the  voice  of  God,  nor  by  the  Spirit  of  prophecy,  are  acting 
under  authority  which  was  given  to  others,  who  are  dead,  and 
their  commission  stolen,  and  their  authority  usurped,  and  the 
king  may  with  propriety  say,  "I  commissioned  the  eleven 
Apostles,  but  ye  know  me  not,  I  never  spoke  to  you;  indeed, 
you  believed  it  was  not  necessary  for  me  to  speak  in  your  day ; 
therefore  you  never  sought  in  faith  for  any  revelation,  and  I 
never  gave  you  any,  and  even  when  I  spake  to  others,  you 
mocked  them,  and  called  them  impostors,  and  persecuted 
them,  because  they  testified  of  the  things  I  had  said  unto 


56  VOICE  OF  WARNING, 

them,  therefore  depart  from  me  ye  cursed,  into  everlasting 
fire  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels,  for  I  was  an  hun- 
gered and  ye  fed  me  not,  I  was  a  stranger  and  ye  took  me 
not  in,  sick  and  in  prison  and  ye  visited  me  not."  They  may 
say,  "Lord,  when  did  we  fail  in  any  of  these  things  ?"  The 
king  will  say,  "Inasmuch  as  you  have  not  done  it  unto  the 
least  of  these,  my  brethren,  (taking  them  for  impostors,  be- 
cause they  testified  of  the  things  which  I  have  revealed  unto 
them),  ye  have  not  done  it  unto  me." 

Having  examined  the  kingdom  of  God,  as  to  its  offices  and 
ordinances,  and  having  discovered  the  only  means  of  being 
adopted  into  it,  let  us  examine  more  fully  what  are  the  bless- 
ings, privileges  and  enjoyments  of  its  citizens.  You  have  al- 
ready seen  that  they  were  to  cast  out  devils,  speak  with  new 
tongues,  heal  the  sick  by  the  laying  on  of  hands  in  the  name 
of  Jesus,  as  well  as  to  see  visions,  dream  dreams,  prophesy, 
etc. 

But  let  us  look  at  the  kingdom  in  its  organized  state,  and 
see  whether  these  promises  were  verified  to  Jews  and  Gen- , 
tiles,  wheresoever  the  kingdom  of  God  was  found  in  all  ages 
of  the  world. 

Paul  wrote,  first,  "To  the  Church  of  God  at  Corinth ;"  sec- 
ond, "To  them  that  are  sanctified  in  Christ  Jesus ;"  third,  "To 
them  that  are  called  to  be  Saints •"  and  fourth,  "To  all  that 
in  every  place  call  on  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord." 
He  said  to  them  all,  (V),  "Now  concerning  spiritual  gifts , 
brethren,  I  would  not  have  you  ignorant."  And  then  con- 
tinuing his  instructions  a  few  verses  further  on,  he  says: — 

"But  the  manifestation  of  the  Spirit  is  given  to  every  man  to  profit 
withal.  For  to  one  is  given  by  the  Spirit  the  word  of  wisdom;  to  an- 
other, the  word  of  knowledge  by  the  same  Spirit;  to  another,  faith  by 
the  same  Spirit;  to  another,  the  gift  of  healing  by  the  same  Spirit;  to 
another,  the  working  of  miracles;  to  another,  prophecy;  to  another,  dis- 
cerning of  spirits;  to  another,  divers  kinds  of  tongues;  to  another,  the 
interpretation  of  tongues;  but  all  these  worketh  that  one  and  the  self- 
same Spirit,  dividing  to  every  man  severally  as  He  [Christ]  will.  For 
as  the  body  is  one,  and  hath  many  members,  and  all  the  members «of  that 
one  body,  being  many,  are  one  body:  so  also  is  Christ.  For  by  one 
Spirit  are  we  all  baptized  into  one  body,  whether  we  be  Jews  or  Gen- 
tiles, whether  we  bo  bond  or  free;  and  have  been  all  made  to  drink  into 
one  Spirit.  For  the  body  is  not  one  member,  but  many.  If  the  foot 
shall  say  because  I  am  not  the  hand,  I  am  not  of  the  body;  is  it  there- 
fore not  of  the  body  ?  And  if  the  ear  shall  say,  because  I  am  not  'the 
eye,  I  am  not  of  the  body,  is  it  therefore  not  of  the  body  ?  If  the  whole 
body  were  an  eye,  where  were  the  smelling?  But  now  hath  God  set 
(U)  I  Cor.  12  : 1. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  57 

the  members  every  one  of  them  in  the  body,  as  it  hath  pleased  him. 
And  if  they  were  all  one  member,  where  were  the  body?" 

I  reply,  it  would  not  exist. 

"But  now  are  they  many  members,  yet  but  one  body.  And  "the  eye 
cannot  say  unto  the  hand,  I  have  no  need  of  thee :  nor  again  the  head  to 
the  feet,  I  have  no  need  of  you.  Nay,  much  more  those  members  of 
the  body  which  seem  to  be  more  feeble  are  necessary ;  and  those  mem- 
bers of  the  body  which  we  think  to  be  less  honorable,  upon  these  we 
bestow  more  abundant  honor ;  and  our  uncomely  parts  have  more  abund- 
ant comeliness.  For  our  comely  parts  have  no  need :  but  God  hath 
tempered  the  body  together,  having  given  more  abundant  honor  to  that 
part  which  lacketh :  that  there  should  be  no  schism  in  the  body;  but 
that  the  members  should  have  the  same  care  one  for  another.  And 
whether  one  member  suffer,  all  the  members  suffer  with  it;  or  one 
member  be  honored,  all  the  members  rejoice  with  it.  Now  ye  are  the 
body  of  Christ,  and  members  in  particular.  And  God  hath  set  some  in 
the  Church,  first  Apostles,  secondarily  Prophets,  thirdly  Teachers,  after 
that  miracles,  then  gifts  of  healing,  helps,  governments,  diversities  of 
tongues.  Are  all  Apostles,  are  all  Prophets,  are  all  Teachers,  are  all 
workers  of  miracles,  have  all  the  gift  of  healing,  do  all  speak  with 
tongues,  do  all  interpret.  But  covet  earnestly  the  best  gifts :  and  yet 
shew  I  unto  you  a  more  excellent  way." 

From  the  thirteenth  verse  of  the  above  chapter,  we  learn 
that  the  apostle  is  still  speaking  to  the  whole  church  in  all 
ages,  whether  Jews  or  Gentiles,  bond  or  free,  even  all  who 
should  ever  compose  the  body  of  Christ,  and  showing  that 
Christ's  body  consisted  of  many  members,  baptized  by  one 
Spirit  into  one  body,  possessing  all  these  different  gifts,  some 
one  gift  and  some  another;  and  then  he  expressly  says,  that 
one  member  possessing  one  gift,  should  not  say  to  another  mem- 
ber, possessing  another  gift,  we  have  no  need  of  thee.  And 
having  shown  that  apostles,  prophets,  evangelists,  pastors,  and 
teachers;  together  with  the  gifts  of  prophecy,  miracles,  heal- 
ing and  all  other  gifts,  compose  the  church,  or  body  of  Christ, 
in  any  age,  both  among  Jews  and  Gentiles,  bond  and  free; 
and  having  utterly  forbidden  any  of  the  members  ever  to  say 
of  any  of  these  gifts,  we  have  no  need  of  thee;  he  declares  that 
the  body  never  could  be  perfected  without  all  of  them,  and 
that  if  they  were  done  away  there  would  be  no  body,  that  is, 
no  church  of  Christ  in  existence.  Having  shown  all  these 
things,  clearly,  he  exhorts  them  to  covet  earnestly  the  best 
gifts.  And  in  the  thirteenth  chapter  he  exhorts  them  to 
have  faith,  hope,  and  charity,  without  which  all  these  gifts 
would  avail  them  nothing;  and  in  the  fourteenth  chapter  re- 
peats the  exhortation,  "Follow  after  charity,  and  desire  spirit- 
ual gifts;  but  rather  that  ye  prophesy."  Jfa  Kphcsians,  (v), 

(r<)  Ephegi&ns  1 : 17. 


§8  VOICE  OF 

Paul  prays  that  the  Lord  would  give  unto  the  church  the 
Spirit  of  WISDOM  and  of  REVELATION,  in  the  KNOWLEDGE  of 
God.  In  Ephesians,  fourth  chapter,  he  tells  them  that  there 
is  one  body,  and  one  Lord,  one  Spirit,  one  faith  and  one  bap- 
tism, and  that  Christ  ascended  up  on  high,  led  captivity  cap- 
tive, and  gave  gifts  to  men,  and  he  gave  some  apostles,  and 
some  prophets,  and  some  evangelists,  and  some  pastors  and 
teachers,  and  if  the  reader  inquires  what  these  gifts  or  offices 
were  for,  let  him  read  verse  twelve  where  Paul  says : 

"For  tho  perfecting  of  the  Saints,  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the 
edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ." 

To  show  how  long  these  were  to  continue,  verso  thirteen 


"Till  we  all  come  in  the  unity  of  tho  faith,  and  of  tho  knowledge  of 
the  Son  of  God,  unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of 
the  fulness  of  Christ." 

And  if  he  still  inquires  what  further  object  Christ  had  in 
giving  these  gifts,  let  him  read  verse  fourteen : — 

'  "That  we  henceforth  be  no  more  children,  tossed  to  and  fro,  and  car- 
ried about  with  every  wind  of  doctrine,  by  the  sleight  of  men,  and  cun- 
ning craftiness,  whereby  they  lie  in  wait  to  deceive." 

Now,  without  these  gifts  and  offices,  first,  the  Saints  cannot 
be  perfected ;  second,  the  work  of  the  ministry  cannot  proceed ; 
third,  the  body  of  Christ  cannot  be  edified;  and,  fourth,  there 
is  nothing  to  prevent  them  from  being  carried  about  with 
every  wind  of  doctrine.  Now,  I  boldly  declare  that  the  reason 
for  all  the  division,  confusion,  jars,  discords  and  animosities; 
and  the  reason  of  so  many  faiths,  lords,  baptisms,  and  spirits; 
yea,  the  reason  that  their  understanding  is  darkened,  and  that 
they  are  alienated  from  the  life  of  God,  through  the  ignorance 
that  is  in  them,  because  of  the  blindness  of  their  hearts;  is 
all  because  they  have  no  Apostles  and  Prophets,  and  other 
gifts,  inspired  from  on  high,  to  whom  they  give  heed;  for  if 
they  had  such  gifts  and  would  give  heed  unto  them,  they 
would  be  built  up  in  one  body,  in  the  pure  doctrine  of  Christ, 
having  one  Lord,  one  faith,  and  one  baptism,  one  hope  of  their 
calling;  yea,  they  would  be  edified,  built  up  unto  Christ,  in 
all  things,  in  whom  the  whole  body  fitly  joined  together,  would 
grow  into  an  holy  temple  in  the  Lord, 

But  so  long  as  men,  by  their  cunning  craftiness,  can  per- 
suade them  that  they  have  no  need  of  these  things,  so  long 
they  can  toss  them  about,  with  every  wind  of  doctrine  just  as 
they  please. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  59 

Now  reader,  I  have  concluded  my  examination  of  the  king- 
dom of  God,  as  it  existed  in  the  Apostles'  days;  and  we  can- 
not look  at  it  in  any  subsequent  age,  until  it  was  renewed 
again  in  the  last  days,  for  it  never  did,  and  never  will  exist, 
without  Apostles  and  Prophets,  and  all  the  other  gifts  of  the 
Spirit. 

Were  we  to  take  a  view  of  the  churches,  from  the  days  that 
inspiration  ceased  until  now,  we  should  see  nothing  like  the 
kingdom  which  we  have  been  viewing  with  such  admiration 
and  delight.  But  instead  of  Apostles  a'nd  Prophets,  we  would 
see  false  teachers  whom  men  had  heaped  to  themselves,  and 
instead  of  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit,  we  should  see  the  wisdom  of 
men;  and  instead  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  many  false  spirits;  in- 
stead of  the  ordinances  of  God,  commandments  of  men;  in- 
stead of  knowledge,  opinion;  guess  work,  instead  of  revelation'; 
division,  instead  of  union;  doubt,  instead  of  faith;  despair, 
instead  of  hope;  hatred,  instead  of  charity;  a  physician,  in- 
stead of  the  laying  on  of  hands  for  the  healing  of  the  sick; 
fables,  instead  of  truth;  evil,  instead  of  good;  darkness,  in- 
stead of  light;  and,  in  a  word,  anti-Christ,  instead  of  Christ"; 
the  powers  of  earth  having  made  war  with  the  Saints,  and 
overcome  them,  until  the  words  of  God  should  be  fulfilled.  0, 
my  God,  shut  up  the  vision!  for  my  heart  sickens  while  I 
gaze;  and  let  the  day  hasten  on  when  the  earth  shall  be 
cleansed  by  fire  from  such  awful  pollutions;  but,  first,  let  thy 
promise  be  fulfilled,  which  thou  didst  make  by  the  mouth  of 
thy  prophet  Jeremiah,  concerning  "Thy  people,  the  remnant 
of  Israel,"  saying, 

"Behold,  I  will  bring  them  from  the  north  country,  and  gather  them 
from  the  coasts  of  the  earth.  *  *  *  They  shall  come  and  sing  in  the 
height  of  Zion,  and  shall  flow  together  to  the  goodness  of  the  Lord,  for 
wheat,  and  for  wine,  and  for  oil,  and  for  the  young  of  the  flock  and^the 
herd;  and  their  soul  shall  be  as  a  watered  garden;  and  they  shall  not 
sorrow  any  more  at  all."  (w) 

(w)  Joiemiah  31  :  8-12. 


60  VOICE  OF 


CHAPTER  IV. 

BOOK  OF  MORMON — ORIGIN  OF  THE  AMERICAN 
INDIANS,    ETC. 

Ye  gloomy  scenes !  far  hence,  intrude  no  more  ! 
Sublimer  themes,  invite  the  muse  to  soar 
In  loftier  strains,  while  scenes  both  strange  and  new, 
Burst  on  the  sight,  and  open  to  the  view. 

Lo  I  from  the  opening  heavens  in  bright  array, 
An  angel  comes — to  earth  he  bends  his  way  ! 
Reveals  to  man,  in  power,  as  at  the  first, 
The  fulness  of  the  gospel  long  since  lost. 

See  earth  obedient,  from  its  bosom  yield, 
The  sacred  truth  it  faithfully  concealed; 
The  wise  confounded,  startled  at  the  sight ; 
The  prsud  and  haughty  tremble  with  affright. 

The  hireling  priests  against  the  truth  engage, 
While  hell  beneath,  stands  trembling,  filled  with  rage ; 
False  are  their  hopes,  and  all  their  struggles  vain ; 
Their  craft  must  fall,  and  with  it  all  their  gain ; 
The  deaf  must  hear,  the  meek  their  joy  increase; 
The  poor  be  glad,  and  their  oppressions  cease. 

While  darkness  covered  the  earth  and  gross  darkness  the 
people,  every  man  walking  in  his  own  way,  and  looking  for 
his  gain  from  his  quarter;  the  Lord  having  for  a  long  time 
holden  his  peace,  and  the  people  fondly  flattering  themselves 
that  the  voice  of  inspiration  would  never  again  sound  in  the 
ears  of  mortals,  to  disturb  or  molest  them  in  their  sinful  ca- 
reer; while  a  few  were  looking  for  the  consolation  of  Israel, 
and  crying  to  God  for  the  ushering  in  of  that  long  expected 
day,  when  an  angel  should  fly  through  the  midst  of  heaven, 
having  the  everlasting  gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell 
on  the  earth,  suddenly  a  voice  was  heard,  a  cry  saluted  the 
cars  of  mortals,  a  testimony  was  heard  among  them,  piercing 
to  the  inmost  recesses  of  their  hearts,  when  all  at  once  the 
heathen  begun  to  rage,  and  the  people  to  imagine  a  vain  thing; 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  61 

the  clergy  lifted  a  warning  voice,  crying,  "Impostor,  false  proph- 
ets, beware  of  delusion,  etc.;"  while  the  professor  of  religion, 
the  drunkard,  the  swearer,  the  learned  and  the  ignorant,  soon 
caught  the  sound  and  reiterated  it  again  and  again.  Thus  it 
re-echoed  from  one  end  of  our  country  to  the  other  for  a  long 
time,  and  when  any  one  was  so  fortunate  as  to  retain  his  sober 
senses  and  candidly  inquire,  "What  is  the  matter?"  the  reply 
was,  "We  hardly  know  anything  about  it;  but  suffice  it  to  say, 
some  fellows  have  made  their  appearance,  Paul  like,  who  tes- 
tify something  about  the  ministering  of  angels,  or  some  reve- 
lation or  inspiration;  just  as  though  the  religion  of  ancient 
days,  and  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  Saints,  were  returning 
to  the  earth  in  this  enlightened  age;  so  that  not  only  this  our 
craft  is  in  danger,  but  our  modern  systems  of  religion,  built 
upon  the  wisdom  and  learning  of  men  without  direct  inspira- 
tion, are  likely  to  be  spoken  against,  and  their  great  magnifi- 
cence despised,  which  all  the  world  worships."  And  then  all 
again  cry  with  a  loud  voice,  saying,  "Great  is  the  wisdom  of 
man,  great  are  the  systems  of  modern  divinity,  great  is  the 
wisdom  of  uninspired  priests  who  come  to  us  with  excellency 
of  speech,  and  with  man's  wisdom  determined  to  know  noth- 
ing among  us,  save  the  opinions  and  creeds  of  their  own,  and 
their  speech  and  their  preaching  is  with  enticing  words  of 
man's  wisdom,  not  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  and  of  pow- 
er, for  that  is  done  away,  that  our  faith  should  not  stand  in 
the  power  of  God,  but  in  the  wisdom  of  men." 

In  the  midst  of  the  noise  and  clamor,  and  prejudice  of  an 
opposing  world,  it  is  difficult  to  get  the  people  to  understand 
the  facts  in  the  case  in  relation  to  one  of  the  most  important 
subjects  ever  presented  to  the  consideration  of  mankind. 

The  Book  of  Mormon  has  perhaps  been  less  understood  and 
more  misrepresented,  by  the  world  at  large,  than  any  other 
publication  which  ever  appeared.  America  and  England  have, 
as  it  were,  been  flooded  with  publications  against  the  said 
book,  and  many  of  them  were  written  by  those  who  had  never 
seen  the  book,  or  by  those  who  had  only  read  one  or  two  pages 
in  it,  or  slightly  looked  through  it,  with  a  biased  mind  and  a 
determination  to  find  fault.  By  some  of  these  it  has  been 
represented  as  a  romance.  By  others  as  a  new  Bible,  calcu- 
lated to  displace  or  do  away  with  the  Bible.  Some  have  pro- 
nounced it  as  a  "silly  mess  of  stuff,"  not  worth  the  perusal; 
and  others  as  the  most  ingenious  literary  work  ever  put  to- 
gether. Some  have  found  fault  with  it  for  being  so  much  like 


62  VOICE  OP  WARNING. 

the  Bible,  and  agreeing  with  it;  and  others  have  condemned  it 
as  being  not  enough  like  the  Bible,  and  disagreeing  with  it. 
Some  have  denounced  it  as  notoriously  corrupt,  immoral,  and 
blasphemous  in  its  principles;  and  others  have  condemned  it 
for  being  so  exceedingly  pure  and  moral  in  its  principles  as  to 
be  just  calculated  to  deceive.  One  clergyman  in  particular, 
in  a  tract  of  sixty  pages  on  this  book,  condemns  it  for  being 
"a  strange  mixture  of  faith  and  works,  of  the  mercy  of  God  . 
and  obedience  of  the  creature."  Some  literary  persons  have 
pronounced  it  as  altogether  ancient  in  its  style,  language,  and 
subjects,  and  as  bearing  great  internal  evidence  of  its  own  an- 
tiquity; while  others  have  condemned  it  as  bearing  every  mark 
of  being  a  modern  production.  Some  have  said  that  there 
were  no  definite  predictions  of  the  future  contained  in  it,  by 
the  fulfillment  or  failure  of  which  its  prophetic  merits  might 
be  tested;  and  others  have  quoted  largely  from  its  most  plain 
and  pointed  predictions  which  relate  to  circumstances  about 
to  be  fulfilled,  and  have  condemned  it  on  account  of  its 
plainness. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  jarring  statements,  it  is  our  duty 
to  show,  as  far  as  possible,  what  the  Book  of  Mormon  really  is. 

When  the  Lord  confounded  the  languages  of  Babel  he  led 
forth  a  colony  from  thence  to  the  western  continent,  which  is 
now  called  America.  This  colony,  after  crossing  the  ocean  in 
eight  vessels,  and  landing  in  this  country,  became  in  process 
of  time  a  great  nation.  They  inhabited  America  for  some 
fifteen  hundred  years.  They  were  at  length  destroyed,  for 
their  wickedness,  about  six  hundred  years  before  Christ.  A 
prophet  by  the  name  of  Ether  wrote  their  history,  and  an  ac- 
count of  their  destruction.  Ether  lived  to  witness  their  entire 
destruction,  and  deposited  his  record  where  it  was  afterwards 
found  by  a  colony  of  Israelites  who  came  from  Jerusalem,  six 
hundred  years  before  Christ,  and  who  re-peopled  America.  This 
last  colony  were  descendants  of  the  tribe  of  Joseph.  They 
grew  and  multiplied,  and  finally  became  two  mighty  nations. 
One  of  these  nations  was  called  Nephites,  Ncphi  being  their 
founder ;  the  other  was  called  Lanianites,  after  a  leader  by  the 
name  of  Laman.  The  Lamanites  became  a  dark  and  be- 
nighted people,  of  whom  the  American  Indians  are  still  a  rem- 
nant. The  Nephites  were  a  civilized  and  enlightened  people, 
and  a  people  highly  favored  of  the  Lord,  who  had  visions, 
angels,  and  ths  gift  of  prophecy  among  them  from  age  to  age, 
and  finally,  they  were  blessed  with  the  personal  appearance  of 


VOICE  OF  WAMIM.  63 

Jesus  Christ  after  His  resurrection;  from  whose  mouth  they 
received  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel,  and  a  knowledge  of  the 
future,  down  through  all  succeeding  ages.  But  after  all  the 
blessings  and  privileges  were  conferred  upon  them,  they  fell 
into  great  wickedness  in  the  third  and  fourth  centuries  of  the 
Christian  era,  and  finally  were  destroyed  by  the  hands  of  the 
Lamanites.  This  destruction  took  place  about  A.  D.  420. 

Mormon,  by  the  commandment  of  the  Lord,  made  an  abridg- 
ment of  the  sacred  records,  which  contained  the  history  of  his 
forefathers,  and  the  prophecies  and  gospel  which  had  been 
revealed  among  them;  to  which  he  added  a  sketch  of  the  his- 
tory of  his  own  time,  and  the  destruction  of  his  nation.  Pre- 
vious to  his  death  the  abridged  records  fell  into  the  hands  of 
his  son,  Moroni,  who  continued  them  down  to  A.  D.  420,  at 
which  time  he  deposited  them  carefully  in  the  earth,  on  a  hill 
which  was  then  called  Cumorah,  which  was  situated  in  Ontario 
Co.,  township  of  Manchester,  and  State  of  New  York,  North 
America.  This  he  did  in  order  to  preserve  them  from  the 
Lamanites,  who  overrun  the  country  and  sought  to  destroy 
them  and  all  the  records  pertaining  to  the  Nephites.  This 
record  has  lain  concealed,  or  sealed  up,  from  A.  D.  420,  to 
September  22nd,  1827;  at  which  time  it  was  found  by  Mr. 
Joseph  Smith,  jun.,  he  being  directed  by  an  angel  of  the  Lord 
to  go  and  obtain  it. 

The  following  account  of  the  discovery  and  translation  of 
this  record  is  extracted  from  a  tract  by  Elder  Orson  Pratt, 
published  at  Edinburgh,  1840,  entitled,  "Keniarkable  Visions/' 
etc.,  to  which  our  readers  are  referred  for  further  particulars : — 

"How  far  below  the  surface  these  records  were  [anciently]  placed,  I 
am  unable  to  say;  but  from  the  fact,  that  they  had  been  some  fourteen 
hundred  years  buried,  and  that,  too,  on  the  side  of  a  hill  so  steep,  one  is 
ready  to  conclude,  that  they  were  some  feet  below,  as  the  earth  would 
naturally  wear,  more  or  less,  in  that  length  of  time.  But  they,  being 
placed  toward  the  top  of  the  hill,  the  ground  would  not  remove  as  much 
as  at  two  thirds,  perhaps.  Another  circumstance  would  prevent  the 
wearing  of  the  earth ;  in  all  probability,  as  soon  as  timber  had  time  to 
grow,  the  hill  was  covered,  and  the  roots  of  the  same  would  hold  the 
surface.  However,  on  this  point,  I  shall  leave  every  man  to  draw  his 
own  conclusion,  and  form  his  own  speculation^  But,  suffice  to  say,  a 
hole  of  sufficient  depth  was  dug.  At  the  bottom  of  this  was  laid  a  stone 
of  suitable  sizo,  the  upper  surface  being  smooth.  At  each  edge  was 
placed  a  largo  quantity  of  cement,  and  into  this  cement,  at  the  four 
edges  of  this  stone,  were  placed  erect  four  others;  their  bottom  edges 
resting  in  the  cement,  at  the  outer  edges  of  the  first  stone.  The  four 
last  named,  when  placed  erect,  formed  a  box:  the  corners,  or  where  the 
edges  of  the  four  came  in  contact,  were  also  cemented  so  firmly  that  the 


64  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

moisture  from  without  was  prevented  from  entering.  It  is  to  be  ob- 
served, also,  that  the  inner  surfaces  of  the  four  erect  or  side  stones,  were 
smooth.  This  box  was  sufficiently  large  to  admit  a  breastplate,  such  as 
was  used  by  the  ancients  to  defend  the  chest,  etc.,  from  the  arrows  and 
weapons  of  their  enemy.  From  the  bottom  of  the  box,  or  from  the 
breastplate,  arose  three  small  pillars,  composed  of  the  same  description 
of  cement  used  on  the  edges ;  and  upon  these  three  pillars  were  placed 
the  records.  This  box  containing  the  records,  was  covered  with  anoth- 
er stone,  the  bottom  surface  being  flat,  and  the  upper  crowning.  When 
ib  was  first  visited  by  Mr.  Smith,  on  the  morning  of  the  22nd  of  Sep- 
tember, 1823,  a  part  of  the  crowning  stone  was  visible  above  the  sur- 
face, while  the  edges  were  concealed  by  the  soil  and  grass.  From 
which  circumstance,  it  may  be  seen,  that  however  deep  this  box  might 
have  been  placed  at  first,  the  time  had  been  sufficient  to  wear  the  earth, 
so  that  it  was  easily  discovered,  when  once  directed,  and  yet  not  enough 
to  make  a  perceivable  difference  to  the  passer  by.  After  arriving  at  the 
repository,  a  little  exertion  in  removing  the  soil  from  the  edges  of  the 
top  of  the  box,  and  a  light  pry,  brought  to  his  natural  vision  its  contents. 
While  viewing  and  contemplating  this  sacred  treasure  with  wonder  and 
astonishment,  behold  !  the  angel  of  the  Lord,  who  had  previously  visited 
him,  again  stood  in  his  presence,  and  his  soul  was  again  enlightened  as 
it  was  the  evening  before,  and  he  was  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
the  heavens  were  opened,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shone  round  about 
and  rested  upon  him.  While  he  thus  stood  gazing  and  admiring,  the 
angel  said,  'Look  I'  And  as  he  thus  spake,  he  beheld  the  Prince  of 
Darkness,  surrounded  by  his  innumerable  train  of  associates.  All  this 
passed  before  him,  and  the  heavenly  messenger  said,  'All  this  is  shown, 
the  good  and  evil,  the  holy  and  the  impure,  the  glory  of  God  and  the 
power  of  darkness,  that  you  may  know  hereafter  the  two  powers,  and 
never  be  influenced  or  overcome  by  that  wicked  one.  Behold,  what- 
soever enticeth  and  leadeth  to  good,  and  to  do  good,  is  of  God,  and  what- 
soever doth  not,  is  of  that  wicked  one.  It  is  he  that  fllleth  the  hearts  of 
men  with  evil,  to  walk  in  darkness  and  blaspheme  God;  and  you  may 
learn  from  henceforth,  that  his  ways  are  to  destruction,  but  the  way  of 
holiness  is  peace  and  rest.  You  cannot  at  this  time  obtain  this  record, 
for  the  commandment  of  God  is  strict,  and  if  ever  these  sacred  things 
are  obtained,  they  must  be  by  prayer  and  faithfulness  in  obeying  the 
Lord.  They  are  not  deposited  here  for  the  sake  of  accumulating  gain 
and  wealth  for  the  glory  of  this  world ;  they  were  sealed  by  the  prayer 
of  faith,  and  because  of  the  knowledge  which  they  contain,  they  are  of 
no  worth  among  the  children  of  men,  only  for  their  knowledge.  On 
them  is  contained  the  fulness  of  the  gosped  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  it  was 
given  to  His  people  on  this  land;  and  when  it  shall  be  brought  forth  by 
the  power  of  God,  it  shall  be  carried  to  the  Gentiles,  of  whom  many  will 
receive  it,  and  after  will  the  seed  of  Israel  be  brought  into  the  fold  of 
their  Redeemer  by  obeying  it  also.  Those  who  kept  the  commandments 
of  the  Lord  on  this  land,  desired  this  at  his  hand,  and  through  the  prayer 
of  faith  obtained  the  promise,  that  if  their  descendants  should  transgress 
and  fall  away,  a  record  should  be  kept,  and  in  the  last  days  come  to  their 
children.  These  things  are  sacred,  and  must  be  kept  so,  for  the  promise 
of  the  Lord  concerning  them  must  be  fulfilled.  No  man  can  obtain  them 
if  his  heart  is  impure,  because  they  contain  that  which  is  sacred.  *  *  - 


VOICE  OP  WARDING.  65 

J3y  them  will  the  Lord  work  a  great  and  marvelous  work ;  the  wisdom 
of  the  wise  shall  become  as  nought,  and  the  understanding  of  the  pru- 
dent shall  be  hid,  and  because  the  power  of  God  shall  be  displayed, 
those  who  profess  to  know  the  truth,  but  walk  in  deceit,  shall  tremble 
with  anger :  but  with  signs  and  with  wonders,  with  gifts  and  with  heal- 
ings, with  the  manifestations  of  the  power  of  God,  and  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  shall  the  hearts  of  the  faithful  be  comforted.  You  have  now  be- 
held the  power  of  God  manifested,  and  the  power  of  Satan ;  you  see  that 
there  is  nothing  desirable  in  the  works  of  darkness ;  that  they  cannot 
bring  happiness ;  that  those  who  are  overcome  therewith  are  miserable ; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  righteous  are  blessed  with  a  place  in  the 
kingdom  of  God,  where  joy  unspeakable  surrounds  them.  There  they 
rest  beyond  the  power  of  the  enemy  of  truth,  where  no  evil  can  disturb 
them.  The  glory  of  God  crowns  them,  and  they  continually  feast  upon 
His  goodness,  and  enjoy  His  smiles.  Behold,  notwithstanding  you  have 
seen  this  great  display  of  power,  by  which  you  may  ever  be  able  to  de- 
tect the  evil  one,  yet  I  give  unto  you  another  sign,  and  when  it  comes  to 
pass,  then  know  that  the  Lord  is  God,  and  that  He  will  fulfill  His  pur- 
poses, and  that  the  knowledge  which  this  record  contains,  will  go  to 
every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people  under  the  whole 
heaven.  This  is  the  sign:  when  these  things  begin  to  be  known,  that  is 
when  it  is  known  that  the  Lord  has  shown  you  these  things,  the  work- 
ers of  iniquity  will  seek  your  overthrow.  They  will  circulate  falsehoods 
to  destroy  your  reputation;  and  also  will  seek  to  take  your  life;  but  re- 
member this,  if  you  are  faithful,  and  shall  hereafter  continue  to  keep  the 
commandments  of  the  Lord,  you  shall  be  preserved  to  bring  these  things 
forth;  for  in  due  time  He  will  give  you  a  commandment  to  come  and 
take  them.  "When  they  are  interpreted,  the  Lord  will  give  the  holy 
priesthood  to  some,  and  they  shall  begin  to  proclaim  this  gospel  and 
baptize  by  water,  and  after  that,  they  shall  have  power  to  give  the  Holy 
Ghost  by  the  laying  on  of  hands.  Then  will  persecution  rage  more  and 
more;  for  the  iniquities  of  men  shall  be  revealed,  and  those  who  are  not 
built  upon  the  Rock  will  seek  to  overthrow  the  church ;  but  it  will  in- 
crease the  more  opposed,  and  spread  farther  and  farther,  increasing  in 
knowledge  till  they  shall  be  sanctified,  and  receive  an  inheritance  where 
the  glory  of  God  will  rest  upon  them ;  and  when  this  takes  place,  and  all 
things  are  prepared,  the  ten  tribes  of  Israel  will  be  revealed  in  the  north 
country,  whither  they  have  been  for  a  long  season ;  and  when  this  is 
fulfilled  will  be  brought  to  pass  that  saying  of  the  prophet,  'And  the 
Redeemer  shall  come  to  Zion,  and  unto  them  that  turn  from  transgression 
in  Jacob,  saith  the  Lord.'  But,  notwithstanding  the  workers  of  iniquity 
shall  seek  your  destruction,  the  arm  of  the  Lord  will  be  extended,  and 
you  will  be  borne  off  conqueror,  if  you  keep  all  His  commandments. 
Your  name  shall  be  known  among  the  nations;  for  the  work  which  the 
Lord  will  perform  by  your  hands  shall  cause  the  righteous  to  rejoice  and 
the  wicked  to  rage;  With  the  one  it  shall  be  had  in  honor,  and  with  the 
other  in  reproach;  yet  with  these  it  shall  be  a  terror,  because  of  the 
great  and  marvelous  work  which  shall  follow  the  coming  forth  of  this 
fulness  of  the  gospel.  Now  go  .thy  way,  remembering  what  the  Lord 
has  done  for  thee,  and  be  diligent  in  keeping  His  commandments,  and  He 
will  deliver  thec  from  temptations,  and  from  all  the  arts  and  devices  of 
the  wicked  one.  Forget  not  to  pray,  that  thy  mind  may  become  strong, 


66  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

that  when  He  shall  manifest  unto  thee  them  mayest  have  power  to  es- 
cape the  evil/  and  to  obtain  these  precious  things.1" 

We  here  remark  that  the  above  quotation  is  partly  an  ex- 
tract from  a  letter  written  by  Elder  Oliver  Cowdery,  which 
was  published  in  one  of  the  numbers  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints1 
Messenger  and  Advocate. 

Although  many  more  instructions  were  given  by  the  mouth 
of  the  angel  to  Mr.  Smith  which  we  do  not  write  in  this  book, 
yet  the  most  important  items  are  contained  in  the  foregoing 
relation.  During  the  period  of  the  four  following  years,  he 
frequently  received  instruction  from  the  mouth  of  the  heavenly 
messenger;  and  on  the  morning  of  the  22nd  of  September,  A. 
D.  1827,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  delivered  the  records  into  his 
hands. 

These  records  were  engraved  on  plates,  which  had  the  ap- 
pearance of  gold.  Each  plate  was  not  far  from  seven  by 
eight  inches  in  width  and  length,  being  not  quite  as  thick  as 
common  tin.  They  were  filled  on  both  sides  with  engravings, 
in  Reformed  Egyptian  characters,  and  bound  together  in  a 
volume  as  the  leaves  of  a  book,  and  fastened  at  the  edge  with 
three  rings  running  through  the  whole.  This  volume  was 
something  near  six  inches  in  thickness,  a  part  of  which  was 
sealed.  The  characters  or  letters  upon  the  unsealed  part  were 
small,  and  beautifully  engraved.  The  whole  book  exhibited 
many  marks  of  antiquity  in  its  construction,  as  well  as  much 
skill  in  the  art  of  engraving.  With  the  records  was  found  a 
curious  instrument,  called  by  the  ancients  the  Urim  and 
Thummim,  which  consisted  of  two  transparent  stones,  clear  as 
crystal,  set  in  two  rims  of  a  bow.  This  was  in  use  in  ancient 
times  by  persons  called  seers.  It  was  an  instrument  by  the 
use  of  which  they  received  revelation  of  things  distant,  or  of 
things  past  or  future. 

In  the  meantime,  the  inhabitants  of  that  vicinity  having 
been  informed  that  Mr.  Smith  had  seen  heavenly  visions,  and 
that  he  had  discovered  sacred  records,  began  to  ridicule  and 
mock.  And  after  he  had  obtained  these  sacred  things,  while 
proceeding  home  through  the  wilderness  and  fields,  he  was 
waylaid  by  two  ruffians,  who  had  secreted  themselves  for  the 
purpose  of  robbing  him  of  the  records.  One  of  them  struck 
him  with  a  club  before  he  perceived  them;  but,  being  a  strong 
man  and  large  in  stature,  with  great  exertion  he  cleared  him- 
self from  them  and  ran  towards  home,  being  closely  pursued 


VOICE  OF  WARNIXQ.  67 

Until  lie  cainc  near  his  father's  house,  when  his  pursuers,  for 
fear  of  being  detected,  turned  and  fled  the  other  way. 

Soon  the  news  of  his  discoveries  spread  abroad  throughout 
all  those  parts.  False  reports,  misrepresentations,  and  base 
slanders,  flew  as  if  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind  in  every  di- 
rection. The  house  was  frequently  beset  by  mobs  and  evil 
designing  persons.  Several  times  he  was  shot  at,  and  very 
narrowly  escaped.  Every  device  was  used  to  get  the  plates 
away  from  him.  And,  being  continually  in  danger  of  losing 
his  life,  he  at  length  concluded  to  leave  the  place  and  go  to 
Pennsylvania;  and  accordingly  he  packed  up  his  goods,  put- 
ting the  plates  into  a  barrel  of  beans,  and  proceeded  upon  his 
journey.  He  had  not  gone  far  before  he  was  overtaken  by  an 
officer  with  a  search  warrant,  who  flattered  himself  with  the 
idea  that  he  should  surely  obtain  the  plates ;  after  searching 
very  diligently  he  was  sadly  disappointed  at  not  finding  them. 
Mr.  Smith  then  drove  on;  but,  before  he  got  to  his  journey's 
end,  he  was  again  overtaken  by  an  officer  on  the  same  business, 
who,  after  ransacking  the  wagon  very  carefully,  went  his  way,  as 
much  chagrined  as  the  first  at  not  being  able  to  discover  the 
object  of  his  search.  Without  any  further  molestation  he 
pursued  his  journey  until  he  came  into  the  northern  part  of 
Pennsylvania,  near  the  Susquehanna  river,  where  his  father- 
in-law  resided. 

Having  provided  himself  with  a  home  he  commenced  trans- 
lating the  record,  by  the  gift  and  power  of  God  through  the 
means  of  the  Urim  and  Thummim;  and,  being  a  poor  writer, 
he  was  under  the  necessity  of  employing  a  scribe  to  write  the 
translation  as  it  came  from  his  mouth. 

In  the  mean  time  a  few  of  the  original  characters  were  ac- 
curately transcribed  and  translated  by  Mr.  Smith,  which,  with 
the  translation,  were  taken  by  a  gentleman  by  the  name  of 
Martin  Harris  to  the  city  of  New  York,  where  they  were  pre- 
sented to  a  learned  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Anthon,  who 
professed  to  be  extensively  acquainted  with  many  languages, 
both  ancient  and  modern. 

"Professor  Anthon  said  that  the  translation  was  correct,  more  so  than 
any  he  had  before  seen  translated  from  the  Egyptian.  I  then  showed 
him  those  which  were  not  yet  translated,  and  he  said  that  they  were 
Egyptian,  Chaldaic,  Assyriac,  and  Arabic,  and  he  said  that  they  were 
the  true  characters.  He  gave  me  a  certificate  certifying  to  the  people 
of  Palmyra  that  they  were  true  characters,  and  that  the  translation  of 
such  of  them  as  had  been  translated  was  also  correct.  I  took  the 
cort.ifioato  and  put  it  into  my  pocket,  and  was  just  leaving  the  house 


68  VOICE  OF  WARNING* 

when  Mr.  Anthon  called  me  back  and  asked  me  how  the  young  matt 
found  out  that  there  were  gold  plates  in  the  place  where  he  found  them. 
I  answered  that  an  angel  of  God  had  revealed  it  unto  him.  He  then 
said  to  me,  'Let  me  see  that  certificate.'  I  accordingly  took  it  out  of  my 
pocket  and  gave  it  to  him,  when  he  took  it  and  tore  it  to  pieces,  saying 
that  there  was  no  such  thing  now  as  ministering  of  angels,  and  that  if  I 
would  bring  the  plates  to  him  he  would  translate  them.  I  informed 
him  that  part  of  the  plates  were  sealed,  and  that  I  was  forbidden  to 
bring  them.  He  replied,  ll  cannot  read  a  sealed  book.'  I  left  him  and 
went  to  Dr.  Mitchell,  who  sanctioned  what  Professor  Anthon  had  said, 
respecting  both  the  characters  and  the  translation."  (x) 

Mr.  Smith  continued  the  work  of  translation,  as  his  pe- 
cuniary circumstances  would  permit,  until  he  finished  the  un- 
sealed part  of  the  records.  The  part  translated  is  entitled  the 
"Book  of  Mormon,"  which  contains  nearly  as  much  reading  as 
the  Old  Testament. 

"Well,"  says  the  objector,  c;If  it  were  not  for  the  marvelous, 
the  book  would  be  considered  one  of  the  greatest  discoveries 
which  the  world  ever  witnessed."  Had  Mr.  Smith  been 
ploughing,  or  digging  a  well  or  cellar,  and  accidentally  dug  up 
a  record  containing  some  account  of  the  ancient  history  of  this 
continent,  and  its  original  inhabitants,  together  with  the  origin 
of  the  Indian  tribes  who  now  inhabit  it;  had  this  record  noth- 
ing to  do  with  God  or  angels  or  inspiration,  it  would  have 
been  hailed  by  all  the  learned  of  America  and  Europe  as  one 
of  the  greatest  and  most  important  discoveries  of  modern  time, 
one  which  unfolded  a  mystery  that  has  bid  defiance  to  all  the 
researches  of  the  learned  world.  Every  newspaper  would  have 
been  filled  with  the  glad  tidings,  while  its  contents  would  have 
poured  in  upon  the  world  a  flood  of  light  on  subjects  before 
concealed  in  the  labyrinth  of  uncertainty  and  doubt.  It  is  re- 
pugnant to  the  people  of  this  age,  who  boast  of  their  enlight- 
enment, religion  and  wisdom,  to  acknowledge  that  there  is  any 
necessity  for  the  ministering  of  angels,  or  for  inspiration. 
They  say,  "This  is  too  much;  away  with  such  things,  for  they 
come  in  contact  with  the  wisdom  and  popularity  of  this  en- 
lightened age."  The  Lord  knew  what  they  would  say  in 
reference  to  this  work,  and  it  has  come  forth  just  as  the 
prophets  foretold  that  it  would.  The  Lord  always  takes  a  dif- 
ferent course  from  that  which  is  marked  out  for  Him  by  the 
wisdom  of  the  world,  so  that  he  may  confound  the  wise  and 
bring  to  nought  the  understanding  of  the  prudent.  He 
chooses  men  of  low  degree,  even  the  simple  and  the  unlearned, 
and  those  who  are  despised,  to  do  his  work  and  to  bring  about 

(x)  Times  and  Sersons,  vol.  3,  page  773. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  69 

his  purposes,  that  no  flesh  shall  glory  in  his  presence.  O  ye 
wise,  and  ye  learned,  who  despise  the  wisdom  that  eomes  from 
above !  know  ye  not  that  it  is  impossible  for  the  world  by  wis- 
dom to  find  out  God?  know  ye  not  that  all  your  wisdom  is 
foolishness  with  God?  know  ye  not  that  ye  must  become  as 
little  children,  and  be  willing  to  learn  wisdom  from  the  least 
of  his  servants,  or  you  will  perish  in  your  ignorance? 

But  what  are  the  evidences  which  we  gather  from  Scripture 
concerning  the  coming  forth  of  this  glorious  work  ?  We  shall 
attempt  to  prove  :  first,  that  America  is  a  promised  land  to  the 
seed  of  Joseph;  second,  that  the  Lord  promised  to  reveal  to 
them  His  truth  as  well  as  to  the  Jews;  and  third,  that  their 
record  was  to  come  forth  and  be  united  with  the  record  of 
the  Jews  in  time  for  the  restoration  of  Israel  in  the  lust  days. 

First,  Jacob,  while  blessing  the  two  sons  of  Joseph,  says. 

uLet  them  grow  into  a  multitude  in  the  midst  of  the  earth/'  (y) 

In  the  same  blessing  it  is  said  of  Ephraim,  his  seed  shall 
become  a  multitude  of  nations.  Now  put  the  sense  of  these 
sayings  together,  and  it  shows  that  Ephraim  was  to  be  a  mul- 
titude of  nations  in  the  midst  of  the  earth.  In  Genesis  (z)  it 
was  prophesied  concerning  Joseph,  (in  Jacob's  blessing),  that 
he  should  be  "a  fruitful  bough  by  a  well,  whose  branches  run 
over  the  wall;  the  archers  have  sorely  grieved  him  and  shot  at 
him,  and  hated  him,  yet  his  bow  abode  in  strength."  Again, 
he  further  says: — 

uThe  blessings  of  thy  father  have  prevailed  above  the  blessings  of  my 
progenitors,  unto  the  utmost  bound  of  the  everlasting  hills ;  they  shall  be 
on  the  head  of  Joseph,  and  on  the  crown  of  the  head  of  him  that  was 
separate  from  his  brethren." 

Now,  I  ask,  who  were  Jacob's  progenitors,  and  what  was 
the  blessing  they  conferred  upon  him?  Abraham  and  Isaac 
were  his  progenitors,  and  the  land  of  Canaan  was  the  blessing 
that  they  conferred  upon  him,  or  that  God  promised  that  he 
should  possess.  Recollect  that  Jacob  conferred  on  Joseph  a 
much  greater  land  than  that  of  Canaan;  even  greater  than  his 
fathers  had  conferred  upon  him,  for  Joseph's  blessing  was  to 
extend  to  the  utmost  bound  of  the  everlasting  hills.  Now 
reader,  stand  in  Egypt,  where  Jacob  then  stood,  and  go  to 
the  utmost  bound  of  the  everlasting  hills,  and  you  will  land 
somewhere  in  the  central  part  of  America.  Again,  one  of  the 
prophets  says,  in  speaking  of  Ephraim,  "When  the  Lord  shall 
roar,  the  children  of  Ephraim  shall  tremble  from  the  west." 

(y)  Gen  48  : 16,    (fi  Gen,  49  :  22. 


70  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

Now  let  us  sum  up  these  sayings,  and  what  have  we  gained? 
First,  that  Ephraiin  was  to  grow  into  a  multitude  of  nations 
in  the  midst  of  the  earth;  second,  that  Joseph  was  to  be 
greatly  blessed  in  a  large  inheritance,  as  far  off  as  America; 
third,  that  this  was  to  be  on  the  west  of  Egypt  or  Jerusalem. 
Now  let  the  world  search  from,  pole  to  pole,  and  they  will 
not  find  a  multitude  of  nations  in  the  midst  of  the  earth,  who 
can  possibly  have  sprung  from  Ephraim,  unless  they  can  find 
them  in  America;  for  the  other  parts  of  the  earth  are  inhab- 
ited by  mixed  races,  who  have  sprung  from  various  sources: 
while  here  an  almost  boundless  country  was  secluded  from  the 
rest  of  the  world,  and  inhabited  by  a  race  of  men,  evidently 
of  the  same  origin,  although  as  evidently  divided  into  many 
nations.  Now  the  Scriptures  cannot  be  broken,  therefore, 
these  Scriptures  must  apply  to  America,  for  the  plainest  of 
reasons — because  they  can  apply  no  where  else.  Secondly, 
God  revealed  himself  to  the  seed  of  Joseph  or  Ephraim,  dwell- 
ing  in  America.  Speaking  of  Ephraim,  he  says,  by  the  spirit 
of  prophecy, — 

"I  have  written  unto  him  the  great  things  of  my  law,  but  they  were 
counted  as  a  strange  thing."  (a) 

This  is  proof  positive,  and  needs  no  comment,  that  the  great 
truths  of  heaven  were  revealed  unto  Ephraim,  and  were  count- 
ed as  a  strange  thing. 

Third,  these  writings  were  to  come  forth  just  previous  to 
the  gathering  of  Israel.  The  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
Ezekiel,  saying: — 

"Moreover,  thou  son  of  man,  take  thee  one  stick,  and  write  upon  it, 
'For  Judah,  and  for  the  children  of  Israel,  his  companions:1  then  take 
another  stick  and  write  upon  it,  'For  Joseph,  the  stick  of  Ephraim,  and 
for  all  the  house  of  Israel,  his  companions :'  and  join  them  one  to  another 
into  one  stick ;  and  they  shall  become  one  in  thine  hand.  And  when 
the  children  of  thy  people  shall  speak  unto  thee,  saying,  'Wilt  thou  not 
shew  us  what  thou  meanest  by  these?'  Say  unto  them,  'Thus  saitli  the 
Lord  God;  behold,  I  will  take  the  stick  of  Joseph,  which  is  in  the  hand 
of  Ephraim,  and  the  tribes  of  Israel  his  fellows,  and  will  put  them  with 
him,  even  with  the  stick  of  Judah,  and  make  them  one  stick,  and  they 
shall  be  one  in  mine  hand.  And  the  sticks  whereon  thou  writest  shall 
be  in  thine  hand  before  their  eyes.1  And  say  unto  them;  thus  saith  the 
Lord  God :  'Behold  I  will  take  the  children  of  Israel  from  among  the 
heathen,  whither  they  be  gone,  and  will  gather  them  on  every  side,  and 
bring  them  into  their  own  land :  and  I  will  make  them  one  nation  in  the 
land  upon  the  mountains  of  Israel ;  and  one  king  shall  be  king  to  them 
all:  and  they  shall  be  no  more  two  nations,  neither  shall  they  be  divided 
•  into  two  kingdoms  any  more  at  all:  neither  shall  they  defile  themselves 
(a)  Hosea  8  : 12. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  <Tl 

any  more  with  their  idols,  nor  with  their  detestable  things,  nor  with  any 
of  their  transgressions :  but  I  will  save  them  out  of  all  their  dwelling- 
places,  wherein  they  have  sinned,  and  will  cleanse  them :  so  shall  they 
be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their  God." 

Two  writings  are  presented]; ^*one  to  Ephraini,  and  one  to 
Judah;  that  of  Ephraim  was  to  be  brought  forth  by  the  Lord 
and  put  with  that  of  Judah,  and  they  were  to  become  one  in 
their  testimony,  and  were  to  grow  together  in  this  manner,  in 
order  to  bring  about  the  gathering  of  Israel.  The  eighty- 
fifth  Psalm  is  very  plain  on  the  subject;  speaking  of  the  res- 
toration of  Israel  to  their  own  land  it  says, — 

"Mercy  and  truth  are  met  together;  righteousness  and  peace  have 
kissed  each  other.  Truth  shatt  spring  out  of  the  earth,  and  righteousness 
shall  look  down  from  heaven.  Yea.  the  Lord  shall  give  that  which  is 
good,  and  our  land  shall  yield  her  increase.  Righteousness  shall  go  be- 
fore him,  and  shall  set  us  in  the  way  of  his  steps." 

Now  the  Savior  while  praying  for  his  disciples,  said,  "Sanc- 
tify them  through  thy  truth,  thy  word  is  truth."  From  these 
passages  we  learn  that  His  word  was  to  spring  out  of  the  earth, 
while  righteousness  was  to  look  down  from  heaven.  Then 
Israel  was  to  be  set  in  the  way  of  His  steps,  and  partake  of 
the  fruit  of  their  own  land.  The  Lord,  by  Jeremiah,  said, — 

"I  will  bring  it  [Jerusalem]  health  and  cure,  and  will  cure  them  and 
will  reveal  unto  them  the  abundance  of  peace  and  truth.  And  I  will  cause 
the  captivity  of  Israel  and  the  captivity  of  Judah*  to  return,  and^will 
build  them  as  at  the  firsts  (6) 

And  Isaiah,  speaking  of  the  everlasting  covenant  which 
should  gather  them,  makes  this  extraordinary  and  very  re- 
markable expression :  "Their  seed  shall  be  known  among  the 
Gentiles,  and  their  offspring  among  the  people."  The  Indians 
of  America  are  of  Israel,  as  some  of  their  manners,  customs 
and  traditions  indicate,  and  they  are  now  to  a  great  extent 
"among  the  Gentiles,"  especially  in  Mexico,  Central  and  South 
America. 

So  much  then  we  have  produced  from  the  Scriptures  in 
proof  of  a  work  like  the  Book  of  Mormon  making  its  appear- 
ance in  these  days;  to  say  nothing  of  Isaiah  twenty-ninth. 

[We  now  refer  the  reader  to  the  Analysis  of  Isaiah  29th  chap- 
ter, to  be  found  at  the  end  of  this  book]. 

*(Biit,"  says  00.3,  "what  is  the  use  of  the  Book  of  Mormon, 
oven  if  it  be  true?"  I  answer,  first,  it  brings  to  light'  an  im~ 
portant  history,  before  unknown  to  man.  Second,"it  reveals 

(6)  Jer.  33  ;  6,  7, 


72  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

the  origin  of  the  American  Indians,  which  was  before  a  mys- 
tery. Third,  it  contains  important  prophecies,  yet  to  be  ful- 
filled, which  immediately  concern  the  present  generation. 
Fourth,  it  contains  much  plainness  in  regard  to  points  of  doc- 
trine, insomuch  that  all  my  understand,  and  see  eye  to  eye,  if 
they  take  pains  to  read  it.  But  what  are  its  proofs,  as  to 
chosen  witnesses  who  testify  to  its  translation  by  inspiration? 
For  this  testimony  I  refer  the  reader  to  the  testimony  of  the 
witnesses  in  the  first  part  of  the  Book  of  Mormon.  He  will 
there  find  as  positive  testimony  as  has  ever  been  found  in  the 
other  Scriptures,  concerning  any  truth  which  God  ever  re- 
vealed. Men  there  testify,  not  only  that  they  have  seen  and 
handled  the  plates,  but  that  an  angel  of  God  came  down  from 
heaven,  and  presented  the  plates  before  them,  while  the  glory 
of  God  shone  round  them;  and  the  voice  of  God  spoke  from 
heaven,  and  told  them  that  these  things  were  true,  and  had 
been  translated  by  the  gift  and  power  of  God,  and  commanded 
them  to  bear  record  of  the  same  to  all  people.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord  God  of  our  fathers,  he  has  visited  his  people,  and  the 
dayspring  from  on  high  has  dawned  upon  our  benighted  world 
once  more;  for  no  sooner  had  the  book  been  translated,  and 
men  begun  to  bear  record  of  the  same,  than  the  angel  of  the 
Lord  came  down  from  heaven  again,  and  commissioned  men  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,  and  to  baptize  with  water 
for  the  remission  of  sins.  No  sooner  did  the  people  begin  to 
believe  their  testimony  and  be  baptized,  than  the  Holy  Ghost 
fell  on  them  through  the  laying  on  of  hands  in  the  name  of 
Jesus;  and  the  heavens  were  opened,  and  while  some  had  the 
ministering  of  angels,  others  began  to  speak  in  other  tongues, 
and  prophesy.  From  that  time  forth  many  of  them  were 
healed  by  the  laying  on  of  hands,  in  the  name  of  Jesus;  and 
thus  mightily  grew  the  word  of  God,  and  prevailed;  and 
thousands  have  been  raised  up  to  testify  that  they  do  know 
for  themselves,  and  are  not  dependent  on  the  testimony  of  any 
man  for  the  truth  of  these  things,  for  these  signs  follow  them 
that  believe ;  and  when  a  man  believes  the  truth  through  the 
testimony  of  God's  witnesses,  and  when  these  signs  follow  not 
only  them,  but  himself  also,  if  he  has  the  ministering  of  angels, 
if  he  has  been  healed,  or  heals  others  by  the  laying  on  of 
harids  in  Jesus'  name,  or  if  he  speaks  in  other  tongues,  or 
prophesies,  he  knows  it  for  himself;  and  thus  is  fulfilled  the 
saying  of  the  Scripture,  "If  any  man  will  do  His  will  he  shall 
know  of  the  doctrine  whether  it  be  of  God."  Thus  faith 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  73 

comes  by  hearing,  and  knowledge  by  obeying;  and  hearing 
comes  by  preaching,  and  preaching  comes  by  sending;  as  it  is 
written, — "How  shall  they  preach  except  they  be  sent?" 

There  are  many  who  say,  "Show  us  a  sign  and  we  will  be- 
lieve/' Remember  that  faith  comes  not  by  signs;  but  signs 
come  by  faith,  and  gifts  were  not  given  to  make  people  believe; 
for  what  saith  the  Scripture  ?  "Gifts  are  for  the  edifying  of 
the  Church."  If  otherwise  why  was  it  not  written  that  faith 
comes  by  miracles?  But  it  is  written,  "Faith  comes  by  hear- 
ing." I  always  take  it  for  granted  that  a  man  or  woman  who 
demands  a  sign  in  order  to  make  them  believe,  belongs  to  a 
wicked  and  adulterous  generation  at  least  to  say  no  worse; 
for  any  person  who  will  go  to  Jesus,  with  a  pure  heart,  desir- 
ing and  praying  in  faith  that  they  may  know  the  truth  con- 
cerning these  things,  the  Lord  will  reveal  it  to  them,  and  they 
shall  know,  and  shall  bear  testimony;  for  by  the  Spirit  of 
God,  they  shall  know  truth  from  error;  as  it  is  written,  "My 
sheep  hear  my  voice."  And  he  that  will  not  come  to  Jesus 
in  faith,  shall  never  know  the  truth  until  he  shall  find  that 
the  harvest  is  over,  and  the  summer  is  ended,  and  his  soul  is 
not  saved. 

Thus  the  religion  of  Jesus,  unlike  all  other  religious  sys- 
tems, bears  its  own  weight  and  brings  certainty  and  knowl- 
edge, leaving  no  room  for  imposition.  And  now  I  say  again 
unto  all  people,  Come  unto  the  Father  in  the  name  of  Jesus; 
doubt  not,  but  be  believing,  as  in  days  of  old,  and  ask  in  faith 
for  whatsoever  you  stand  in  need,  ask  not  that  you  may  con- 
sume it  on  your  lusts;  but  ask  with  a  firmness  not  to  be 
shaken.  Yield  to  no  temptation,  but  keep  his  commandments, 
as  far  as  he  makes  them  manifest  unto  you,  and  if  you  do  this, 
and  he  reveals  to  you  that  he  has  sent  us  with  a  new  and  ever- 
lasting covenant  and  commanded  us  to  preach,  and  to  baptize, 
and  to  build  up  his  Church,  as  in  days  of  old,  then  come  for- 
ward and  obey  the  truth;  but  if  you  do  not  know,  or  are  not 
satisfied  that  He  has  sent  us,  then  do  not  embrace  the  doctrine 
we  preach.  Thus  to  your  own  master  you  shall  stand  or  fall; 
and  one  day  you  shall  know;  yea,  in  that  great  day,  when 
every  knee  shall  bow,  then  shall  you  know  that  God  has  sent 
us  with  the  truth  to  prune  his  vineyard  for  the  last  time  with 
a  mighty  pruning. 

We  offer  circumstantial  evidence  from  "'American  Anti- 
quities," and  from  the  traditions  of  the  natives,  etc. 

Mr.  Boudinot  says: — - 


74  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

"It  is  said  among  tlieir  principal  or  beloved  men,  that  they  Lave  it 
handed  down  from  their  ancestors  that  such  a  book  as  the  white  people 
have  was  once  theirs ;  that  while  they  had  it  they  prospered  exceedingly, 
etc.  They  also  say  that  their  fathers  were  possessed  of  an  extraordinary 
Divine  Spirit,  by  which  they  foretold  future  events,  and  controlled  the 
common  course  of  nature;  and  this  they  transmitted  to  their  offspring, 
on  condition  of  their  obeying  the  sacred  laws;  that  they  did  by  these 
means  bring  down  showers  of  blessings  upon  their  beloved  people;  but 
that  this  power  for  a  long  time  past  has  entirely  ceased.1' 

Col.  James  Smith,  in  his  journal,  while  a  prisoner  among 
the  natives,  says : — 

"They  have  a  tradition,  that  in  the  beginning  of  this  continent,  the 
angels,  or  heavenly  inhabitants,  as  they  call  them,  frequently  visited  the 
people,  and  talked  with  their  forefathers,  and  gave  directions  how  to 
pray.1' 

Mr.  Boudinot,  in  his  able  work  remarks  concerning  their 
language : — 

"Their  language  in  its  roots,  idiom,  and  particular  construction,  appears 
to  have  the  whole  genius  of  the  Hebrew;  and,  what  is  very  remarkable, 
and  well  worthy  of  serious  attention,  has  most  of  the  peculiarities  of  the 
language,  cspeciall}''  those  in  which  it  differs  from  most  other  languages. 
There  is  a  tradition  related  by  an  aged  Indian  of  the  Stockbridge  tribe, 
that  their  fathers  were  once  in  possession  of  a  'Sacred  Book'  which  was 
handed  doiunfrom  genemtion*to  generation  and  at  last  hid  in  the  earth,  since 
which  time  they  had  been  under  the  feet  of  tlieir  enemies.  But  those 
oracles  were  to  be  restored  to  them  again,  and  then  they  would  triumph 
over  tlieir  enemies  and  regain  their  ancient  country,  together  with  their 
rights  and  priviliges."  Mr.  Boudinot,  after  recording  many  traditions 
similar  to  the  above,  at  length  remarks:  "Can  any  man  read  this  short 
account  of  Indian  traditions,  drawn  from  the  tribes  of  various  nations, 
from  the  west  to  the  east,  and  from  the  south  to  the  north,  wholly  sep- 
arated from  each  other,  written  by  different  authors  of  the  best  charac- 
ter, both  for  knowledge  and  integrity,  possessing  the  best  means  of  in- 
formation, at  various  and  distant  times,  without  any  possible  communi- 
cation with  each  other,  and  yet  suppose  that  all  this  is  the  effect  of  chance, 
accident  or  design,  from  a  love  of  the  marvelous,  or  premeditated  inten- 
tion of  deceiving,  and  thereby  ruining  their  well  established  reputation?'1 

Joseph  Merrick.Esq.,  a  highly  respected  character  in  Pitts- 
field,  Mass.,  gave  the  following  account: — 

"That  in  1815,  he  was  leveling  some  ground  under  and  near  an  old 
woodshed  standing  on  a  place  of  his,  situated  on  Indian  Hill.  He  ploughed 
and  conveyed  away  old  chips  and  earth,  to  some  depth.  After  the  work 
was  done,  walking  over  the  place,  he  discovered,  near  where  the  earth 
had  been  dug  the  deepest,  a  black  strap,  as  it  appeared,  about  six  inches 
in  length,  and  one  and  a  half  in  breadth,  and  about  the  thickness  of  a 
leather  trace  to  a  harness.  He  perceived  it  had  at  each  end  a  loop  of 
some  hard  substance,  probably  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  it.  He  con- 
veyed it  to  his  house  and  threw  it  into  an  old  tool  box.  He  afterwards 
found  it  thrown  out  at  the  door,  and  again  conveyed  it  to  the  box. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  75 

After  some  time,  lie  thought  he  would  examine  it,  but  in  attempting  to 
cut  it,  found  it  as  hard  as  bone;  he  succeeded  however  in  getting  it  open, 
and  found  it  was  formed  of  two  pieces  of  thick  rawhide,  sewed  and  made 
water  tight  with  the  sinews  of  some  animal,  and  gummed  over;  and  in  the 
fold  was  contained  four  folded  pieces  of  parchment.  They  were  of  a  dark 
yellow  hue,  and  contained  some  kind  of  writing.  The  neighbors,  com- 
ing in  to  see  the  strange  discovery,  tore  one  of  the  pieces  to  atoms,  in 
the  true  Hun  and  Vandal  st}7le.  The  other  three  pieces  Mr.  Merrick 
saved,  and  sent  them  to  Cambridge,  where  they  were  examined,  and  dis- 
covered to  have  been  written  with  a  pen,  in  Hebrew,  plain  and  legible. 
The  writing  on  the  three  remaining  pieces  of  parchment  was  quotations 
from  the  Old  Testament.  See  Deut.  c.  6,  from  4th  to  9th  v.  inclusive; 
also,  c.  11,  v.  13  to  21,  inclusive,  and  Exodus,  c.  13,  v.  11  to  1G,  inclu- 
sive, to  which  the  reader  can  refer,  if  he  has  the  curiosity  to  read  this 
most  interesting  discovery.'' 

"On  the  banks  of  White  -River,  m  Arkansas  Territory,  have  leen 
found  the  remains  of  an  enlightened  population  of  the  most  extraordinary 
character,  on  account  of  their  dimensions  and  the  materials  of  which 
they  were  erected.  One  of  these  works  is  a  wall  of  earth,  which  en- 
closes an  area  of  six  hundred  and  forty  acres,  equaMo  a  mile  square, 
and  having  in  its  centre  the  foundation  of  a  large  circular  building,  or 
temple.  Another,  yet  more  strange  and  more  extended,  consists  of  the 
foundations  of  a  great  city,  whose  streets,  crossing  each  other  at  right 
angles,  are  easily  traced  through  the  mighty  forest.  And  besides  them 
are  found  the  foundations  of  houses,  made  Q£ burned  brides  like  the  bricks 
of  the  present  time.  These  have  been  traced  to  the  extent  of  a  mile.'1 

The  foregoing  is  taken  from  Priest's  Amri-ica-i  Antiquities, 
and  from  the  same  work  we  extract  the  following,  page  216. 

'''Ruins  of  the  City  of  Otolum,  discovered  in  Xorfh  America. — In  a  letter 
of  C.  S.  Rafmesque,  whom  we  have  before  quoted,  to  a  correspondent 
in  Europe,  we  iind  the  following:  'Some  years  ago  the  Society  of 
Geography,  in  Paris,  offered  a  large  premium  for  a  voyage  to  Guatamala, 
and  for  a  new  survey  of  the  antiquities  of  Yucatan  and  Chiapa,  chiefly 
tho  se  fifteen  miles  from  Palenque.1 

":J  have,'  says  this  author,  'restored  to  them  the  true  name  of  Otolum, 
which  is  yet  the  name  of  the  stream  running  through  the  ruins.  They 
were  surveyed  by  Captain  Del  Rio,  in  1787,  an  account  of  which  was 
published  in  English  in  1822.  This  account  describes  partly  the  ruins 
of  a  stone  city,  of  no  less  dimensions  than  seventy-five  miles  in  circuit; 
length  thirty-two,  and  breadth  twelve  miles,  full  of  palaces,  monuments, 
statues,  and  inscriptions;  one  of  the  earliest  seats  of  American  civiliza- 
tion, about  equal  to  Thebes  of  ancient  Egypt."' 

It  is  stated  in  the  Family  Magazine,  (c),  as  follows: — 
'•Public  attention  has  been  recently  excited  respecting  the  ruins  of  an 
ancient  city  found  in  Guatamala.  It  would  seem  that  these  ruins  are 
now  being  explored,  and  much  curious  and  valuable  matter  in  a  literary 
and  historical  point  of  view  is  anticipated.  We  deem  the  present  a  most 
auspicious  moment,  now  that  the  public  attention  is  turned  to  the  sub- 
ject, to  spread  its  contents  before  our  readers,  as  an  introduction  to 
future  discoveries  during  the  researches  now  in  progress.11  (a7) 

(c)  Xo.  34,  page  266,  for  1833.    (eZ)  Catherwood  and  Stephens  afterwards 
"•"blished  the  result  of  their  explorations  of  these  ruins. 


76  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  particulars,  as  related  by 
Captain  Del  Bio,  who  partially  examined  them,  as  above  re- 
lated, in  1787:— 

"Prom  Palenque,  the  last  town  northward  in  the  province  of  Oiudad 
Real  de  Chiapa,  taking  a  south-westerly  direction  and  ascending  a  ridge 
of  highland  that  divides  the  kingdom  of  Guatamala  from  Yucatan,  at  the 
distance  of  six  miles,  is  the  little  river  Micol  whose  waters  flow  in  a 
westerly  direction,  and  unite  with  the  great  river  Tulijoh,  which  bends 
its  course  towards  the  province  of  Tolasco.  Having  passed  Micol,  the 
ascent  begins,  and  at  half  a  league,  or  a  mile  and  a  half,  the  traveller 
crosses  a  little  stream  called  Otolum;  from  this  point  heaps  of  stone 
ruins  are  discovered,  which  render  the  roads  very  difficult  for  another 
half  league,  when  you  gain  the  height  whereon  the  stone  houses  are 
situated,  being  still  fourteen  in  number  in  one  place,  some  more  dilapi- 
dated than  others,  yet  still  having  many  of  their  apartments  perfectly 
discernible. 

"A  rectangular  area  three  hundred  yards  in  breadth  by  four  hundred 
and  fifty  in  length,  which  is  a  fraction  over  fifty-six  rods  wide,  and  eighty- 
four  rods  long,  being,  in  the  whole  circuit,  two  hundred  and  eighty  rods, 
which  is  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  and  a  trifle  over,  This  area  presents  a 
plain  at  the  base  of  the  highest  mountain  forming  the  ridge.  In  the 
centre  of  the  plain  is  situated  the  largest  of  the  structures  which  has  as 
yet  been  discovered  among  these  ruins.  It  stands  on  a  mound  or 
pyramid  twenty  yards  high,  which  is  sixty  feet,  or  nearly  four  rods  in 
perpendicular  altitude,  which  gives  it  a  lofty  and  beautiful  majesty,  as 
if  it  were  a  temple  suspended  in  the  sky.  This  is  surrounded  by  other 
edifices,  namely;  five  to  the  northward,  four  to  southward,  one  to  the 
south-west,  and  three  to  the  eastward, — fourteen  it  all.  In  all  directions, 
the  fragments  of  other  fallen  buildings  are  seen  extending  along  the 
mountain  that  stretches  east  and  west  either  way  from  these  buildings, 
as  if  it  were  the  great  temple  of  worship,  or  their  government  house, 
around  which  they  built  their  cit}%  and  where  dwelt  their  kings  and 
officers  of  state.  At  this  place  was  found  a  subterranean  stone  aqueduct, 
of  great  solidity  and  durability,  which  in  its  course  passes  beneath  the 
largest  building." 

Let  it  be  understood,  this  eity  of  Otolum,  the  ruins  of 
which  are  so  immense,  is  in  North,  not  South  America,  in 
the  same  latitude  with  the  island  of  Jamaica,  which  is  about 
eighteen  degrees  north  of  the  equator,  being  on  the  highest 
ground  between  the  northern  end  of  the  Caribbean  Sea  and 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  where  the  continent  narrows  towards  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  is  about  eight  hundred  miles  south 
of  New  Orleans. 

The  discovery  of  these  ruins,  and  also  of  many  others 
equally  wonderful  in  the  same  country,  has  aroused  the  at- 
tention of  the  schools  of  Europe,  who  had  denied  that  America 
could  boast  of  her  antiquities.  But  these  immense  ruins, 
have  been  explored  under  the  direction  of  Catherwood  and 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  77 

Stephens,  a  history  of  which,  in  detail,  has  been  published  in 
two  large  volumes.  A  gentleman  who  was  living  near  the 
town  of  Cincinnati,  in  1826,  on  the  upper  level,  had  occasion 
to  sink  a  well  for  his  accommodation,  who  persevered  in  dig- 
ging to  the  depth  of  eighty  feet  without  finding  water,  but 
still  persisting  in  the  attempt,  his  workmen  found  themselves 
obstructed  by  a  substance  which  resisted  their  labor,  though 
evidently  not  stone.  They  cleared  the  surface  and  sides  from 
the  earth  bedded  around  it,  when  there  appeared  the  stump 
of  a  tree,  three  feet  in  diameter,  and  two  feet  high,  which  had 
been  cut  down  with  an  axe.  The  marks  of  the  axe  were  yet 
visible.  It  was  nearly  of  the  color  and  apparent  character  of 
coal,  but  had  not  the  friable  and  fusible  quality  of  that  sub- 
stance. Ten  feet  below  the  water  sprang  up,  and  the  well  is 
now  in  constant  supply  and  high  repute,  (e) 

Tn  Morse's  Universal  Geography,  volume  1,  page  142,  the 
discovery  of  two  stumps  is  described  as  follows : — 

"In  digging  a  well  in  Cincinnati,  the  stump  of  a  tree  was  found  in  a 
sound  state,  ninety  feet  below  the  surface;  and  in  digging  another  well, 
at  the  same  place,  another  stump  was  found,  at  ninety -four  feet  below 
the  surface,  which  had  evident  marks  of  the  axe ;  and  on  the  top  there 
appeared  as  if  some  iron  tool  had  been  consumed  by  rust.'1 

We  might  fill  a  volume  with  accounts  of  American  anti- 
quities, all  going  to  show  that  this  country  has  been  inhabited 
by  a  people  who  possessed  a  knowledge  of  the  arts  and 
sciences,  who  built  cities,  cultivated  the  earth,  and  who  were 
in  possession  of  a  written  language.  But  the  things  which 
we  have  introduced,  are  abundantly  sufficient  for  our  purpose. 
If  a  few  characters  in  Hebrew  have  been  found  in  the  earth 
in  America,  written  on  parchment,  then  it  is  just  as  easy  to 
admit  that  a  whole  volume  has  been  found  in  the  earth  in 
America,  written  on  plates,  in  "Reformed  Egyptian"  charac- 
ters. The  astonishing  fact  of  the  stumps  being  found  eighty 
or  ninety  feet  under  ground  at  Cincinnati,  and  similar  dis- 
coveries in  many  other  parts  of  North  and  South  America, 
such  as  buried  cities,  and  other  antiquities,  all  go  to  prove  that 
there  has  been  a  mighty  convulsion  and  revolution,  not  only 
of  nations,  but  of  nature;  and  such  a  convulsion  as  is  no  where 
else  so  reasonably  accounted  for  as  in  the  following  extraordi- 
nary and  wonderful  account  of  events,  which  transpired  in 
this  country  during  the  crucifixion  of  the  Messiah,  which  we 
extract  from  the  Book  of  Mormon,  (/) 

(*)  See  Priest's  Antiauities,  p.  125.    (/)  Book  of  Nephi  4  ;  2-10. 


78  \U1CE  OF  WARNING. 

"And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  thirty  and  fourth  year,  in  the  first  month, 
in  the  fourth  day  of  the  month,  there  arose  a  great  storm,  such  an  one 
as  never  had  been  known  in  all  the  land;  and  there  was  also  a  great  and 
terrible  tempest;  and  there  was  terrible  thunder,  insomuch  that  it  did 
shako  the  whole  earth  as  if  it  was  about  to  divide  asunder;  and  there 
were  exceeding  sharp  lightnings,  such  as  had  never  been  known  in  all 
the  land.  And  the  city  of  Zarahemla  did  take  fire;  and  the  city  of  Mo- 
roni did  sink  into  the  depths  of  the  sea,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  were 
drowned;  and  the  earth  was  carried  up  upon  the  city  of  Moronihah,  that 
in  the  place  of  the  city  thereof,  there  became  a  great  mountain;  and 
there  was  a  great  and  terrible  destruction  in  the  land  southward.  But 
behold,  there  was  a  more  great  and  terrible  destruction  in  the  land  north- 
ward: for  behold,  the  whole  face  of  the  land  was  changed,  because  of 
the  tempest,  and  the  whirlwinds,  and  the  thunderings,  and  the  light- 
nings, and  the  exceeding  great  quaking  of  the  whole  earth ;  and  the  high- 
ways were  broken  up,  and  the  level  roads  were  spoiled,  and  many  smooth 
places  became  rough,  and  many  great  and  notable  cities  were  sunk,  and 
many  were  burned,  and  many  were  shook  till  the  buildings  thereof  had 
fallen  to  the  earth,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  were  slain,  and  the  places 
were  left  desolate ;  and  there  were  some  cities  which  remained ;  but 
the  damage  thereof  was  exceeding  groat,  and  there  were  many  in  them 
who  were  slain ;  and  there  were  some  who  were  carried  away  in  the 
whirlwind;  and  whither  they  went,  no  man  knoweth,  save  they  know 
that  they  were  carried  away ;  and  thus  the  face  of  the  whole  earth  be- 
came deformed,  because  of  the  tempests,  and  the  thunderings,  and  the 
lightnings,  and  the  quaking  of  the  earth.  And  behold,  the  rocks  were 
rent  in  twain;  they  were  broken  up  upon  the  face  of  the  whole  earth, 
insomuch  that  they  were  found  in  broken  fragments,  and  in  seams,  and 
in  cracks,  upon  all  the  face  of  the  land. 

uAnd  it  came  to  pass  that  when  the  thunderings,  and  the  lightnings, 
and  the  storm,  and  the  tempest,  and  the  quakings  of  the  earth  did  cease 
— for  behold,  they  did  last  for  about  the  space  of  three  hours;  and  it  was 
said  by  some  that  the  time  Xvas  greater ;  nevertheless,  all  these  great  and 
terrible  things  were  done  in  about  the  space  of  three  hours;  and  then 
behold,  there  was  darkness  upon  the  face  of  the  land. 

"And  it  came  to  pass  that  there  was  thick  darkness  upon  all  the  lace 
of  the  land,  insomuch  that  the  inhabitants  thereof  who  had  not  fallen, 
could  feel  the  vapor  of  darkness;  and  there  could  be  no  light,  because 
of  the  darkness;  neither  candles,  neither  torches;  neither  could  there  be 
fire  kindled  with  their  fine  and  exceeding  dry  wood,  so  that  there  could 
not  be  any  light  at  all;  and  there  wras  not  any  light  seen,  neither  fire 
nor  glimmer,  neither  the  sun,  nor  the  moon,  nor  the  stars,  for  so  great 
were  the  mists  of  darkness  which  were  upon  the  face  of  the  land. 

"And  it  came  to  pass  that  it  did  last  for  the  space  of  three  days,  that 
there  was  no  light  seen;  and  there  was  great  mourning,  and  howling, 
and  weeping  among  all  the  people  continually;  yea,  great  were  the 
groanings  of  the  people  because  of  the  darkness  and  the  great  destruc- 
tions which  had  come  upon  them.  And  in  one  place  they  were  heard 
to  cry,  saying,  0  that  we  had  repented  before  this  great  and  terrible  day, 
and  then  would  our  brethren  have  been  spared,  and  they  would  not 
have  been  burned  in  that  great  city  Zarahemla.  And  in  another  place 
they  were  heard  to  cry  and  mourn,  saying,  0  that  we  had  repented  be- 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  79 

fore  this  great  and  terrible  day,  and  had  not  killed  and  stoned  the  proph- 
ets, and  cast  them  out;  then  would  our  mothers,  and  our  fair  daughters, 
and  our  children  have  been  spared,  and  not  have  been  buried  up  in  that 
great  city  Moronihah ;  and  thus  were  the  howlings  of  the  people  great 
and  terrible. 

"And  it  came  to  pass  that  there  was  a  voice  heard  among  all  the  in- 
habitants of  the  earth  upon  all  the  face  of  this  land,  crying,  Wo,  wo,  wo 
unto  this  people;  wo  unto  the  inhabitants  of  the  whole  earth,  except 
they  shall  repent,  for  the  devil  laugheth  and  his  angels  rejoice,  because 
of  the  slain  of  the  fair  sons  and  daughters  of  my  people;  and  it  is  because 
of  their  iniquity  and  abominations  that  they  are  fallen.  Behold,  the 
great  city  Zarahemla  have  I  burned  with  fire,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof. 
And  behold,  that  great  city  Moroni  have  I  caused  to  be  sunk  in  the 
depths  of  the  sea,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  to  be  drowned.  And  be- 
hold, the  great  city  Moronihah  have  I  covered  with  earth,  and  the  in- 
habitants thereof,  to  hide  their  iniquities  and  their  abominations  from  be- 
fore my  face,  and  the  blood  of  the  prophets  and  the  saints  shall  not  come 
any  more  unto  me  against  them.  And  behold,  the  city  of  Gilgal  have  I 
caused  to  be  sunk,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  to  be  buried  up  in  the 
depths  of  the  earth;  yea,  and  the  city  Onihah,  and  the  inhabitants  there- 
of, and  the  city  of  Mocum,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  the  city  of 
Jerusalem,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  waters  have  I  caused  to  come 
up  in  the  stead  thereof,  to  hide  their  wickedness  arid  abominations  from 
before  my  face,  that  the  blood  of  the  prophets  and  the  saints  shall  not 
come  up  any  more  unto  me  against  them.  And  behold,  the  city  of 
Gadiandi,  and  the  city  of  G-adiomnah,  and  the  city  of  Jacob,  and  the  city 
of  Gimgimno,  all  these  have  I  caused  to  be  sunk,  and  made  hills  and 
valleys  in  the  places  thereof,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  have  I  buried 
up  in  the  depths  of  the  earth,  to  hide  their  wickedness  and  abominations 
from  before  my  face,  that  the  blood  of  the  prophets  and  the  saints  should 
not  come  up  any  more  unto  me  against  them.  And  behold,  the  great 
city  Jacobugath,  which  was  inhabited  by  the  people  of  the  king  of  Ja- 
cob, have  I  caused  to  be  burned  with  fire,  because  of  their  sins  and 
their  wickedness,  which  was  above  all  the  wickedness  of  the  whole 
earth,  because  of  their  secret  murders  and  combinations;  for  it  was  they 
that  did  destroy  the  peace  of  my  people  and  the  government  of  the  land: 
therefore  I  did  cause  them  to  be  burned,  to  destroy  them  from  before  my 
face,  that  the  blood  of  the  prophets  and  the  saints  should  not  come  up 
unto  me  any  more  against  them.  And  behold,  the  city  of  Laman,  and 
the  city  of  Josh,  and  the  city  of  Gad,  and  the  city  of  Kishkumen,  have  I 
caused  to  be  burned  with  fire,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof,  because  of 
their  wickedness  in  casting  out  the  prophets,  and  stoning  those  whom  I 
did  send  to  declare  unto  them  concerning  their  wickedness  and  their 
abominations;  and  because  they  did  cast  them  all  out,  that  there  were 
none  righteous  among  them,  I  did  send  down  fire  and  destroy  them,  that 
their  wickedness  and  abominations  might  be  hid  from  before  my  face, 
that  the  blood  of  the  prophets  and  the  saints  whom  I  sent  among  them, 
might  not  cry  unto  me  from  the  ground  against  them ;  and  many  great 
destructions  have  I  caused  to  come  upon  this  land,  and  upon  this  people, 
because  of  their  wickedness  and  their  abominations. 

"0  all  ye  that  are  spared,  because  ye  were  more  righteous  than  they, 
will  ye  not  now  return  unto  me,  and  repent  of  your  sins,  and  be  con- 


80  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

verted,  that  I  may  heal  you?  Yoa,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  if  ye  will 
come  unto  me,  ye  shall  have  eternal  life.  Behold,  mine  arm  of  mercy  is 
extended  towards  you,  and  whosoever  will  come,  him  will  I  receive ; 
and  blessed  are  those  who  come  unto  me.  Behold  I  am  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Son  of  God.  I  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  all  things 
that  in  them  arc.  I  was  with  the  Father  from  the  beginning.  I  am  in 
the  Father,  and  the  Father  in  me ;  and  in  me  hath  the  Father  glorified 
his  name.  I  came  unto  my  own,  and  my  own  received  me  not.  And 
the  scriptures,  concerning  my  coming,  are  fulfilled.  And  as  many  as 
have  received  me,  to  them  have  I  given  to  become  the  sons  of  God ;  and 
even  so  will  I  to  as  many  as  shall  believe  on  my  name,  for,  behold,  by 
me  redemption  cometh,  and  in  me  is  the  law  of  Moses  fulfilled.  I  am 
the  light  and  the  life  of  the  world.  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  be- 
ginning and  the  end.  And  ye  shall  offer  up  unto  me  no  more  the  shed- 
ding of  blood;  yea,  your  sacrifices  and  your  burnt  offerings  shall  be  done 
away,  for  I  will  accept  none  of  your  sacrifices  and  your  burnt  offerings; 
and  ye  shall  offer  for  a  sacrifice  unto  me  a  broken  heart  and  a  contrite 
spirit.  And  whoso  cometh  unto  me  with  a  broken  heart  and  a  contrite 
spirit,  him  will  I  baptize  with  fire  and  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  even  as 
the  Lamanites,  because  of  their  faith  in  me,  at  the  time  of  their  conver- 
sion, were  baptized  with  fire,  and  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  they  knew 
it  not.  Behold,  I  have  come  unto  the  world  to  bring  redemption  unto 
the  world,  to  save  the  world  from  sin;  therefore  whoso  repenteth  and 
cometh  unto  me  as  a  little  child,  him  will  I  receive ;  for  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  God.  Behold,  for  such  I  have  laid  down  my  life,  and  have 
taken  it  up  again ;  therefore  repent,  and  come  unto  me  ye  ends  of  the 
earth,  and  be  saved. 

"And  now  behold,  it  came  to  pass  that  all  the  people  of  the  land  did 
hear  these  sayings;  and  did  witness  of  it.  And  after  these  sayings  there 
was  silence  in  the  land  for  the  space  of  many  hours ;  for  so  great  was 
the  astonishment  of  the  people  that  they  did  cease  lamenting  arid  howling 
for  the  loss  of  their  kindred  which  had  been  slain ;  therefore  there  was 
silence  in  the  land  for  the  space  of  many  hours. 

"And  it  came  to  pass  that  there  came  a  voice  again  unto  the  people, 
and  all  the  people  did  hear,  and  did  witness  of  it,  saying,  O  VQ  people  of 
these  great  cities  which  have  fallen,  who  arc  descendants  of  Jacob;  yea, 
who  are  of  the  house  of  Israel,  how  oft  have  I  gathered  you  as  a  hen 
gathereth  her  chickens  under  her  wings,  and  have  nourished  you.  And 
again,  how  oft  would  I  have  gathered  you,  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chick- 
ens under  her  wings;  yea,  0  ye  people  of  the  house  of  Israel,  who 
have  fallen;  yea,  0  ye  people  of  the  house"  of  Israel;  ye  that  dwell  at 
Jerusalem,  as  ye  that  have  fallen ;  yea,  how  oft  would  I  have  gathered 
you  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens,  and  ye  would  not.  0  ye  house  of 
Israel,  whom  I  have  spared,  how  oft.  will  I  gather  you  as  a  hen  gathereth 
her  chickens  under  her  wings,  if  ye  will  repent  and  return  unto  me  with 
full  purpose  of  heart.  But  if  not,  0  house  of  Israel,  the  places  of  your 
dwellings  shall  become  desolate,  until  the  time  of  the  fulfilling  of  the 
covenant  to  your  fathers. 

"And  now  it  came  to  pass  that  after  the  people  had  heard  these 
words,  behold  they  began  to  weep  and  howl  again,  because  of  the  loss 
of  their  kindred  and  friends.  And  it  came  to  pass  that  thus  did  the 
three  daj-s  pass  away.  And  it  was  in  the  morning,  and  the  darkness 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  81 

dispersed  from  off  the  face  of  the  land,  and  the  earth  did  cease  to  tremble, 
and  the  rocks  did  cease  to  rend,  and  the  dreadful  groanings  did  cease, 
and  all  the  tumultuous  noises  did  pass  away,  and  the  earth  did  cleave  to- 
gether again,  that  it  stood,  and  the  mourning  and  the  weeping,  and  the 
wailing  of  the  people  who  were  spared  alive,  did  cease;  and  their 
mourning  was  turned  into  joy,  and  their  lamentations  into  the  praise  and 
thanksgiving  unto  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  their  Redeemer.  And  thus 
far  were  the  scriptures  fulfilled,  which  had  been  spoken  by  the  prophets.11 

Here  then  is  an  account  which  shows  clearly  and  definitely 
how  and  when  the  American  antiquities  became  buried;  how 
the  stumps  of  trees  were  placed  eighty  or  ninety  feet  under 
ground;  how  cities  were  sunk,  and  overwhelmed;  how  mount- 
ains fell  and  valleys  rose ;  how  the  rocks  were  rent,  and  how 
the  whole  face  of  the  continent  became  altered  and  deformed. 
We  now  close  this  subject  by  saying  to  all  people,  that  if  they 
wish  information  on  the  antiquities  of  America;  if  they  wish 
historical,  prophetical,  or  doctrinal  information  of  the  highest 
importance,  let  them  carefully  read  the  Book  of  Mormon. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  RESURRECTION  OF  THE  SAINTS,  AND  THE  RESTORATION 
OF  ALL  THINGS  SPOKEN  BY  THE  PROPHETS. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  important  subjects  which  the 
human  mind  can  contemplate;  one,  however  neglected  at  the 
present  time,  which  was  once  the  ground  work  of  the  faith, 
hope,  and  joy  of  the  Saints.  It  was  a  correct  understanding 
of,  and  firm  belief  in  this  subject,  that  influenced  all  their 
movements.  Their  minds  once  fastened  upon  it,  they  could 
not  be  shaken  from  their  purpose;  their  faith  was  firm,  their 
joy  constant,  and  their  hope  like  an  anchor  to  the  soul,  both 
sure  and  steadfast,  reaching  to  that  within  the  veil.  It  was 
this  that  enabled  them  to  rejoice  in  the  midst  of  tribulation, 
persecution,  sword  and  flame :  and  in  view  of  this,  they  took 
joyfully  the  spoiling  of  their  goods,  and  gladly  wandered  as 
strangers,  and  pilgrims  on  the  earth;  for  they  sought  a 
country,  a  city,  and  an  inheritance,  that  none  but  a  Saint 
ever  thought  of,  understood,  or  even  hoped  for.  Now  we  can 


82  VOICE  OF  WARKIXG. 

never  understand  precisely  what  is  meant  by  restoration  unless 
we  understand  what  is  lost  or  taken  away;  for  instance,  when 
we  offer  to  restore  any  thing  to  a  man,  it  is  as  much  as  to  say 
he  once  possessed  it,  but  had  lost  it,  and  that  we  propose  to 
replace,  or  put  him  in  possession  of  that  which  he  once  had; 
therefore  when  a  Prophet  speaks  of  the  restoration  of  all  things, 
he  means  that  all  things  have  undergone  a  change,  but  are  to 
be  again  restored  to  the  primitive  order  in  which  they  once 
existed. 

First  then,  it  becomes  necessary  for  us  to  take  a  view  of 
creation,  as  it  rolled  in  purity  from  the  hand  of  its  Creator ; 
and  if  we  can  discover  the  state  in  which  it  then  existed,  and 
understand  the  changes  that  have  taken  place  since,  we  shall 
then  be  able  to  understand  what  is  to  be  restored;  and  our 
minds  being  thus  prepared,  we  will  be  looking  for  tho  very 
things  which  shall  come,  and  we  will  be  in  no  danger  of  lift- 
ing our  puny  arms  in  ignorance,  to  oppose  the  things  of  God. 

When  God  had  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and 
separated  the  light  from  the  darkness,  His  next  great  com- 
mandment was  to  the  waters : — 

"And  God  said,  Let  the  waters  under  the  heaven  be  gathered  together 
unto  one  place,  and  let  the  dry  land  appear:  and  it  was  so."  (0) 

From  this  we  learn  that  the  waters  which  are  now  divided 
into  oceans,  seas,  and  lakes,  were  then  all  gathered  together 
into  one  ocean;  and  consequently  that  the  land  which  is  now 
torn  asunder,  and  divided  into  continents  and  islands,  almost 
innumerable,  was  then  one  vast  continent,  or  body,  not  separa- 
ted as  it  now  is. 

Second,  we  hear  the  Lord  God  pronounced  the  earth,  as 
Well  as  every  thing  else,  very  good.  From  this  we  learn  that 
there  were  no  deserts,  nor  barren  places;  no  stagnant  swamps, 
no  rough,  broken,  rugged  hills,  no  vast  mountains  covered 
with  eternal  snow,  and  that  no  part  of  it  was  located  in  the 
frigid  zone,  so  as  to  render  its  climate  dreary  and  unproduc- 
tive, subject  to  eternal  frost  or  everlasting  chains  of  ice, 

Where  no  sweet  flowers,  the  dreary  landscape  cheer, 
Nor  plenteous  harvests,  crown  the  passing  year ; 

but  the  whole  earth  was  probably  one  vast  plain,  or  inter- 
spersed with  gently  rising  hills,  and  sloping  vales,  well  calcu- 
lated for  cultivation;  while  its  climate  was  delightfully  varied, 
without  any  extremely  hot,  cold,  wet,  or  dry  weather,  which 
only  tended  to  crown  the  varied  year  with  a  greater  variety  of 

(g)  Gen,  1  :  9. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  83 

productions;  all  for  the  good  of  man,  or  animals,  fowls  or 
creeping  things;  while,  from  the  flowery  plain,  or  spicy  grove, 
sweet  odors  were  wafted  on   every  breeze;  and  all  the  vast 
creation  breathed  nought  but  health,  and  peace,  and  joy. 
Next  we  learn  from  Genesis,  that, — 

"God  said,  Behold  I  have  given  you  every  herb  bearing  seed,  which  is 
upon  the  face  of  all  the  earth ;  and  every  tree  in  the  which  is  the  fruit  of 
a  tree,  yielding  seed;  to  you  it  shall  be  for  meat;  and  to  every  beast  of 
the  earth,  and  to  every  fowl  of  the  air,  and  to  every  thing  that  creepeth 
upon  the  earth,  wherein  there  is  life;  I  have  given  every  green  herb  for 
meat;  and  it  was  so."  (h) 

From  these  verses  we  learn  that  the  earth  yielded 
no  nauseous  weeds,  no  poisonous  plants,  no  thorns  or 
thistles;  indeed  every  thing  that  grew,  was  just  calculated 
for  the  food  of  man  or  beast,  fowl  or  creeping  thing;  and  their 
food  was  all  vegetable ;  and  flesh  and  blood  were  never  sacrificed 
to  glut  their  souls,  or  gratify  their  appetites;  the  beasts  of  the 
earth  were  all  in  perfect  harmony  with  each  other;  the  lion 
ate  straw  like  the  ox,  the  wolf  dwelt  with  the  lamb,  the  leop- 
ard lay  down  with  the  kid,  the  cow  and  bear  fed  together  in 
the  same  pasture,  while  their  young  ones  reposed  in  perfect 
security,  under  the  shade  of  the  same  trees;  all  was  peace  and 
harmony,  and  nothing  to  hurt  nor  disturb  in  all  the  holy 
mountain. 

And,  to  crown  the  whole,  man  was  created  in  the  image  of 
G-od,  and  exalted  in  dignity  and  power,  having  dominion  over 
all  the  vast  number  of  animated  beings  which  covered  the 
earth,  while  at  the  same  time  he  inhabited  a  beautiful  and 
well  watered  garden,  in  the  midst  of  which  stood  the  tree  of 
life,  to  which  he  had  free  access;  while  he  stood  in  the 
presence  of  his  Maker,  conversed  with  Him  face  to  face,  and 
gazed  upon  His  glory  without  a  dimming  vail  between. 

0  reader,  contemplate  for  a  moment  this  beautiful  creation, 
clothed  with  peace  and  plenty;  the  earth  teeming  with  harm- 
less animals,  rejoicing  over  all  the  plain ;  the  air  swarming 
with  delightful  birds,  whose  never  ceasing  notes  filled  the  air 
with  varied  melody,  and  all  in  subjection  to  their  rightful 
sovereign,  who  rejoiced  over  them;  while  a  delightful  garden 
stood  as  the  capital  of  creation,  and  man  seated  on  the  throne 
of  this  vast  empire,  swaying  his  sceptre  over  all  the  earth  with 
undisputed  right;  while  legions  of  angels  encamped  round 
about  him,  and  joined  their  glad  voices  in  grateful  songs  of 
praise  and  shouts  of  joy;  while  not  a  sigh  nor  'groan  was 


84  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

heard  throughout  the  earth;  no  death,  no  sorrow,  no  tears,  no 
weeping,  no  pain  nor  sickness;  no  contentions,  wars  nor 
bloodshed;  but  peace  crowned  the  seasons  as  they  rolled;  and 
life,  joy,  and  love  reigned  over  all  His  works.  But  how 
changed  is  the  scene  since  that  time. 

Let  us  trace  some  of  the  important  changes  which  have 
taken  place,  and  the  causes  which  have  conspired  to  reduce 
the  earth  and  its  inhabitants  to  their  present  state. 

First,  man,  by  giving  heed  to  temptation,  fell  from  his 
standing  before  God;  and  this  fall  affected  the  whole  creation, 
as  well  as  man,  and  caused  various  changes  to  take  place. 
Man  was  banished  from  the  presence  of  his  Creator,  and  a 
vail  was  drawn  between  them,  and  he  was  banished  from  the 
garden  of  Eden,  to  till  the  earth,  (which  was  then  cursed  for 
man's  sake,  and  begun  to  bring  forth  thorns  and  thistles),  and 
with  the  sweat  of  his  face,  and  in  sorrow,  he  was  to  eat  of  it 
all  the  days  of  his  life,  and  finally  return  to  dust.  But  as  to 
Eve,  her  curse  was  a  great  multiplicity  of  sorrow  and  concep- 
tion; and  between  her  seed,  and  the  seed  of  the  serpent,  there 
was  to  be  a  constant  enmity;  it  should  bruise  the  serpent's 
head,  and  the  serpent  should  bruise  his  heel. 

Header,  contemplate  the  change.  The  world  which  had 
until  then  been  so  beautiful,  had  now  become  the  abode  of 
sorrow  and  toil,  of  death  and  mourning.  The  earth  groaned 
with  its  production  of  thorns  and  thistles,  and  man  and  beast 
were  at  enmity;  the  serpent  slyly  crept  away,  fearing  lest  his 
head  should  get  the  deadly  bruise;  and  man  startled  amid  the 
thorny  path,  in  fear  lest  the  serpent's  fangs  should  pierce  his 
heel;  while  the  lamb  yielded  his  blood  upon  the  smoking 
altar,  and  soon  man  began  to  persecute,  hate,  and  murder  his 
fellow,  until  at  length  the  earth  was  filled  with  violence,  all 
flesh  became  corrupt,  the  powers  of  darkness  prevailed,  and  it 
repented  Noah  that  God  had  made  man,  and  it  grieved  him 
at  his  heart,  for  the  Lord  came  out  in  vengeance,  and  cleansed 
the  earth  by  water.  How  far  the  flood  may  have  contributed 
to  produce  the  various  changes,  as  to  the  division  of  the  earth 
into  broken  fragments,  islands,  and  continents,  mountains  and 
valleys,  we  have  not  been  informed,  yet  the  change  must  have 
been  considerable.  But  after  the  flood,  in  the  days  of  Peleg, 
the  earth  was"  divided,  (i)  It  is  a  short  history,  to  be  sure,  of 
so  great  an  event,  but  still  it  will  account  for  the  mighty 
revolution,  which  rolled  the  sea  from  its  own  place  in  the 

(7i)  Gen.  1  :  29,  30. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  85 

north,  and  brought  it  to  interpose  between  different  portions 
of  the  earth,  which  were  parted  asunder,  and  moved  into 
something  near  their  present  form ;  this,  together  with  the 
earthquakes,  revolutions  and  commotions,  which  have  since 
taken  place,  have  all  contributed  to  reduce  the  face  of  the 
earth  to  its  present  state,  while  the  great  curses,  which  have 
fallen  upon  different  portions  because  of  the  wickedness  of 
men,  will  account  for  stagnant  swamps,  the  sunken  lakes,  the 
dead  seas,  and  great  deserts.  Witness  for  instance  the  de- 
nunciations of  the  prophets  upon  Babylon,  how  it  was  to  be- 
come perpetual  desolations,  a  den  of  wild  beasts,  a  dwelling  of 
unclean  and  hateful  birds,  a  place  for  owls;  and  should  never 
be  inhabited,  but  should  lie  desolate  from  generation  to  gen- 
eration. Witness  also  the  plains  of  Sodom,  filled  with  towns, 
cities,  and  flourishing  gardens,  well  watered.  Witness  the 
land  of  Palestine;  in  the  days  of  Solomon  it  was  capable  of 
sustaining  millions  of  people,  besides  a  surplus  of  wheat  and 
other  productions,  which  were  exchanged  with  the  neighbor- 
ing nations;  but  it  has  been  desolate  ever  since  the  Jews  were 
driven  from  that  land  until  recently.  Now  its  former  fertility 
is  restored.  And  when  I  cast  mine  eyes  over  our  own  land 
and  see  the  numerous  swamps,  lakes,  and  ponds  of  stagnant 
waters,  together  with  the  vast  mountains  and  innumerable 
rough  places,  while  rocks  have  been  rent,  and  torn  asunder, 
from  centre  to  circumference,  I  exclaim,  Whence  all  this! 
But,  when  I  read  the  Book  of  Mormon,  it  informs  me  that 
while  Christ  was  crucified  by  the  Jews,  this  whole  American 
continent  was  shaken  to  its  foundation,  that  many  cities  were 
sunk,  and  waters  came  up  in  their  places;  that  the  rocks  were 
rent  in  twain;  that  mountains  were  thrown  up  to  an  exceed- 
ing height,  and  other  mountains  became  valleys ;  the  level  roads 
spoiled,  and  the  whole  face  of  the  land  changed.  I  then  ex- 
claim, These  things  are  no  longer  a  mystery.  I  have  now 
learned  to  account  for  the  many  wonders  which  I  every  where 
behold  throughout  our  whole  country.  When  I  am  passing  a 
ledge  of  rocks,  and  see  that  they  have  all  been  rent  and  torn 
asunder,  while  some  huge  fragments  are  found  deeply  imbed- 
ded in  the  earth,  some  rods  from  whence  they  were  torn,  I 
exclaim  with  astonishment,  These  were  the  groans,  the  con- 
vulsive throes  of  agonizing  nature,  while  the  Son  of  God  suf- 
fered upon  the  cross. 

Men  have  also  degenerated,  and  greatly  changed,  as  well  a 
the  earth.     The  sins,  the  abominations,  and  the  many  evil 


86  VOICE  QF  WARNING. 

habits  of  the  latter  ages  have  added  to  the  miseries,  toils  and 
sufferings  of  human  life.  The  idleness,  extravagance,  pride, 
covetousness,  drunkenness,  and  other  abominations,  which  are 
characteristics  of  the  latter  times,  have  all  combined  to  sink 
mankind  to  the  lowest  stage  of  wretchedness  and  degradation ; 
while  priestcraft  and  false  doctrines  have  greatly  tended  to  lull 
mankind  to  sleep,  and  to  cause  them  to  rest  incomparably  short 
of  the  powers  and  attainments  which  the  ancients  did  enjoy, 
and  which  are  alone  calculated  to  exalt  the  intellectual  powers 
of  the  human  mind;  to  establish  noble  and  generous  senti- 
ments; to  enlarge  the  heart,  and  to  expand  the  soul  to  its  ut- 
most capacity.  Many  of  the  ancient  Saints  conversed  with 
Jehovah;  learned  lessons  from  the  angels;  received  instruction 
by  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  dreams  by  night  and  visions  by  day; 
until  at  length  the  vail  was  taken  off,  and  they  were  permitted 
to  gaze  with  wonder  and  admiration  upon  things  past  and  fu- 
ture; yea,  even  to  soar  aloft  amid  unnumbered  worlds;  while 
the  vast  expanse  of  eternity  stood  open  before  them,  and  they 
contemplated  the  mighty  works  of  the  Great  I  AM,  until 
they  knew  as  they  were  known,  and  saw  as  they  were  seen. 

Compare  this  intelligence  with  the  smatterings  of  education 
and  worldly  wisdom,  which  seem  to  satisfy  the  narrow  mind 
of  man  in  our  generation ;  and,  having  seen  the  two  contrasted, 
you  will  be  able  to  form  some  idea  of  the  vast  elevation  from 
which  man  has  fallen ;  you  will  also  learn  how  very  far  beneath 
his  former  glory  and  dignity  he  is  now  living;  and  your  heart 
will  mourn,  and  be  exceedingly  sorrowful,  when  you  contem- 
plate him  in  his  low  estate  and  think  he  is  your  brother;  and 
you  will  be  ready  to  exclaim,  0  man !  how  art  thou  fallen ! 
Once  thou  wast  the  favorite  of  Heaven;  thy  Maker  delighted 
to  converse  with  thee;  and  angels,  and  the  spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect  were  thy  companions;  but  now  thou  art  degraded 
and  brought  down.  Well  did  the  Apostle  Peter  say  of  you, 
that  you  know  nothing  only  what  you  know  naturally;  as 
brute  beasts  made  to  be  taken  and  destroyed,  and  thus  you 
perish  from  generation  to  generation,  while  all  creation  groans 
under  its  pollution,  and  death  and  sorrow,  mourning  and  weep- 
ing, fill  up  the  measure  of  the  days  of  man. 

The  Apostle  Peter,  while  preaching  to  the  Jews,,  said, — 

"And  ho  shall  send  Jesus  Christ,  which  before  was  preached  unto 
you,  whom  the  heavens  must  receive  until  the  times  of  restitution,  [res- 
toration] of  all  things  which  God  hatli  spoken,  by  the  mouth  of  all  the 
holy  prophets,  since  the  world  began."  (i) 

(i)  Acts  3  :  2L 


VOICE  OP  WARNING.  87 

It  appears  from  the  above,  that  all  the  holy  prophets  since 
Adam  have  had  their  eyes  upon  a  certain  time,  when  all 
things  should  be  restored  to  their  primitive  beauty  and  excel- 
lence. And  we  also  learn  that  the  time  of  restitution  was  to 
be  at  or  near  the  time  of  Christ's  second  coming,  for  the 
heavens  are  to  receive  Him  until  the  times  of  the  restitution, 
and  then  the  Father  shall  send  Him  again  to  the  earth. 

"Comfort  ye,  comfort  ye  my  people  saith  your  God.  Speak  ye  com- 
fortably to  Jerusalem,  and  cry  unto  her,  that  her  warfare  is  accomplished, 
that  her  iniquity  is  pardoned :  for  she  hath  received  of  the  Lord's  hand 
double  for  all  her  sins.  The  voice  of  him  that  crieth  in  the  wilderness, 
prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make  straight  in  the  desert  a  highway 
for  our  God.  Every  valley  shall  be  exalted,  and  every  mountain  and 
hill  shall  be  made  low:  and  the  crooked  shall  be  made  straight,  and  the 
rough  places  plain :  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  reavealed,  and  all 
flesh  shall  see  it  together;  for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it."  (j) 

From  these  verses  we  learn  :  first,  that  the  voice  of  one  shall 
be  heard  in  the  wilderness,  to  prepare  the  way  of  the  Lord, 
just  at  the  time  when  Jerusalem  has  been  trodden  down  of 
the  Gentiles  long  enough  to  have  received  at  the  Lord's  hand 
double  for  all  her  sins,  when  the  warfare  of  Jerusalem  is 
accomplished  and  her  iniquities  pardoned;  then  shall  this 
proclamation  be  made  as  it  was  before  by  John,  yea,  a  second 
proclamation,  to  prepare  the  way  of  the  Lord  for  His  second 
coming;  and  about  that  time  every  valley  shall  be  exalted, 
and  every  mountain  and  hill  shall  be  made  low,  and  the  crook- 
ed shall  be  made  straight,  and  rough  places  plain,  and  then 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  revealed,  and  all  flesh  shall  see 
it  together,  for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it.  These 
mighty  revolutions  will  restore  the  face  of  the  earth  to  its 
former  beauty. 

In  the  thirty-fifth  chapter  of  Isaiah  we  read  of  the  Lord's 
second  coming,  and  of  the  mighty  works  which  will  attend  it. 
The  barren  deserts  will  abound  with  pools  and  springs  of  liv- 
ing water,  and  produce  grass,  with  flowers  blooming  as  the 
rose,  and  that  too  about  the  time  of  the  coming  of  their  God 
with  vengeance  and  recompense,  which  must  allude  to  his 
second  coming ;  and  Israel  is  to  come  at  the  time  to  Zion  with 
songs  of  everlasting  joy,  and  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee 
away.  Thus  the  curse  will  be  taken  off  from  the  deserts,  and 
they  will  become  fruitful,  well  watered  countries. 

The  islands  will  return  again  to  the  continents  from  which 
they  were  separated.  For  this  refer  to  the  sixth  chapter  and 

( j)  Isaiah  40  :  1-5. 


88  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

fourteenth  verse  of  Kevelations:  "And  every  mountain  and 
island  were  moved  out  of  their  places." 

From  this  we  learn  that  they  will  move  somewhere,  and  as 
it  will  be  the  time  of  restoring  what  had  been  lost,  they  will 
accordingly  return  and  join  themselves  to  the  land  from  whence 
they  came. 

"The  earth  shall  move  out  of  her  place,  and  be  like  a  chased  roe 
which  no  man  taketh  up."  (k) 

"Thou  shalt  no  more  be  termed  forsaken ;  neither  shall  thy  land  any 
more  be  termed  desolate;  but  thou  shalt  be  termed  Hepzibah,  and  thy 
land  Beulah:  for  the  Lord  delighteth  in  thoe,  and  thy  land  shall  bo 
married."  (I) 

First,  then,  the  earth  will  be  like  a  chased  roe,  and  in  the 
second  place  it  will  be  married.  From  this  and  various  other 
passages  of  scripture,  we  learn  that  the  continents  and  islands 
will  be  united  in  one,  as  they  were  in  the  morn  of  creation, 
and  the  sea  shall  retire  and  be  gathered  to  its  own  place,  where 
it  was  in  that  day;  and  all  these  scenes  shall  take  place  dur- 
ing the  mighty  convulsion  of  nature,  about  the  time  of  the 
coming  of  the  Lord. 

Behold !  the  Mount  of  Olives  rend  in  twain ; 
While  on  its  top  He  sets  His  feet  again, 
The  islands  at  His  word  obedient  flee ; 
While  to  the  north  He  rolls  the  mighty  sea, 
Restores  the  earth  in  one  as  at  the  first; 
With  all  its  blessings,  and  removes  the  curse. 

The  earth  will  then  be  restored  to  the  same  glorious  state 
in  which  it  first  existed ;  the  mountains  leveled,  the  valleys 
exalted,  the  rough  places  made  smooth,  the  deserts  fruitful, 
the  continents  and  all  the  islands  brought  together,  causing 
the  curse  to  be  taken  off,  that  it  shall  no  longer  produce 
noxious  weeds  and  thorns  and  thistles.  The  brute  creation 
will  also  be  restored  to  its  former  state  of  peace  and  glory, 
and  all  enmity  will  cease  from  off  the  earth.  But  this  will 
never  be  done  until  there  is  a  general  destruction  poured  out 
upon  all  men  who  know  not  Grod  and  who  obey  not  the  gospel, 
which  will  entirely  cleanse  the  earth,  and  sweep  all  wickedness 
from  its  face.  This  will  be  done  by  the  rod  of  His  mouth, 
and  by  the  breath  of  His  lips,  or  in  other  words  by  a  fire  as 
universal  as  the  flood.  Isaiah  said: 

"With  righteousness  shall  he  judge  the  poor,  and  reprove  with  equity 

for  the  meek  of  the  earth,  and  with  the  breath  of  his  lips  shall  he  slay 

the  wicked.     The  wolf  shall  dwell  with  the  lamb,  and  the  leopard  shall 

lie  down  with  the  kid,  and  the  calf,  and  the  young  lion,  and  the  fatling 

(fr)  Isaiah  13  : 13,  H.    (7)  Isaiah  C2  :  4. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  89 

together;  and  a  little  child  shall  lead  them.  And  the  cow  and  the  bear 
shall  feed;  their  young  ones  shall  lie  down  together;  and  the  lion  shall 
eat  straw  like  the  ox.  And  the  sucking  child  shall  play  on  the  hole  of 
the  asp,  and  the  weaned  child  shall  put  his  hand  on  the  cockatrice's 
den.  They  shall  not  hurt  nor  destroy  in  all  my  holy  mountain ;  for  the 
earth  shall  be  full  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover 
the  sea."  (ra) 

The  earth  being  cleansed  and  glorified  with  the  knowledge 
of  God  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea,  and  God  having  poured 
out  his  Spirit  upon  all  flesh,  man  and  beast  will  become 
peaceable,  as  they  were  in  the  beginning,  and  they  will  feed 
on  vegetable  food  only,  while  nothing  will  be  left  to  hurt  or 
destroy  in  all  the  vast  creation.  The  prophets  give  us  many 
glorious  descriptions  of  the  enjoyments  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  earth 

"They  shall  build  houses  and  inhabit  them;  they  shall  plant  vineyards 
and  drink  the  wine  of  them;  they  shall  plant  gardens  and  eat  the  fruit 
of  them;  they  shall  not  build  and  another  inhabit;  they  shall  not  plant 
and  another  eat;  for  as  the  days  of  a  tree,  are  the  da}Ts  of  my  people; 
and  mine  elect  shall  long  enjoy  the  work  of  their  hands.  They  shall 
not  labor  in  vain,  nor  bring  forth  in  trouble;  for  they  are  the  seed  of 
the  Lord,  and  their  offspring  with  them ;  and  it  shall  come  to  pass  that 
before  they  call  I  will  answer,  and  while  they  arc  yet  speaking  I  will 
hear."  (n) 

In  this  state  of  happy  existence  it  seems  that  all  people  will 
live  to  the  full  age  of  a  tree,  and  this,  too,  without  pain  or 
sorrow;  and  whatsoever  they  ask  will  ba  immediately  an- 
swered, and  even  all  their  wants  will  be  anticipated.  Of 
course  then,  none  of  them  will  sleep  in  the  dust,  for  they  will 
prefer  to  bo  translated,  that  is  changed  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye,  from  mortality  to  immortality,  after  which  they  will  con- 
tinue to  reign  with  Jesus  on  the  earth. 

Thus  we  have  traced  the  prophet  through  the  varying 
scenes  which  conspire  to  restore  the  earth  and  its  inhabitants 
to  that  state  of  perfection  in  which  they  first  existed,  and  in 
which  they  will  exist  during  the  sabbath  of  creation. 

Having  seen  all  things  restored  among  the  living  we  now 
enquire  after  those  who  sleep  in  the  dust.  In  order  to  under- 
stand precisely  the  nature  of  their  restoration  we  must  ascer- 
tain the  particulars  concerning  the  resurrection  of  Jesus;  for 
he  was  the  pattern  after  which  all  his  saints  will  be  raised. 
We  recollect,  first,  that  he  was  clothed  upon  with  flesh,  and 
blood,  and  bones,  like  other  men,  and  every  way  subject  to 
hunger,  thirst,  pain,  weariness,  sickness  and  death,  like  any 

(m)  Isaiah  11  :  4,  9.      (n)  Isaiah  65  :  21-24. 


90  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

other  person,  with  this  difference,  that  he  was  capable  of  en- 
during more  than  any  other  human  body.  Second,  this  same 
body  was  hung  upon  the  cross,  torn  with  nails,  which  were 
driven  through  his  hands  and  feet;  his  side  was  pierced 
with  a  spear  and  there  came  out  blood  and  water.  Third, 
this  same  body  being  entirely  lifeless,  like  any  other  corpse, 
was  taken,  without  a  bone  being  broken,  and  carefully  wrapped 
in  linen  and  laid  in  the  tomb,  where  it  continued  for  three 
days.  Then,  early  in  the  morning,  the  women  came  to  the 
sepulchre,  and  his  disciples  also,  and  found  the  linen  clothes 
lying  useless,  and  the  napkin  which  was  about  his  head  care- 
fully folded  and  laid  by  itself,  but  the  body  which  had  lain 
there  was  gone.  From  all  these  circumstances  we  discover 
that  the  same  flesh  and  bones  which  were  laid  in  the  tomb 
were  actually  reanimated,  and  did  arise  and  lay  aside  the  linen 
which  was  no  longer  needed;  and  Jesus  Christ  came  forth 
triumphant  from  the  mansions  of  the  dead,  possessing  the 
same  body  which  had  been  born  of  a  woman,  and  which  had 
been  crucified.  But  no  blood  flowed  in  his  veins,  for  blood 
was  the  natural  life  in  which  were  the  principles  of  mortality, 
and  a  man  restored  to  flesh  and  blood  would  be  mortal,  and 
consequently  again  subject  to  death,  which  was  not  the  case 
with  our  Savior,  although  he  had  flesh  and  bones  after  he 
rose ;  for,  when  he  appeared  to  his  disciples,  and  they  were 
afraid,  supposing  it  was  only  a  spirit,  he,  in  order  to  show 
them  their  mistake,  said : 

"Handle  me  and  sec,  for  a  spirit  hath  not  flesh  and  bones  as  yon  see 
me  have."  (0) 

And  calling  for  something  to  eat,  he  was  provided  with  a 
piece  of  broiled  fish  and  an  honey  comb,  which  he  did  eat. 
And  even  afterwards  Thomas  was  invited  to  put  his  finger 
into  the  prints  of  the  nails  in  his  hands  and  feet,  and  to  thrust 
his  hand  into  his  side.  From  this  it  is  evident  that  he  not 
only  possessed  the  same  body,  but  also  the  same  wounds  con- 
tinued to  show  themselves  for  a  witness,  and  will  continue  to 
until  he  comes  again,  when  the  Jews  will  look  upon  Him 
whom  they  have  pierced,  and  enquire:  "What  are  the 
wounds  in  his  hands  and  in  his  feet?"  0  ye  hard  hearted 
children  of  men,  your  eyes  will  behold  him  who  was  crucified 
for  your  sins;  then  shall  ye  see  that  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead  is  a  reality,  something  tangible,  and  that  eternity  is  not 
a  land  of  shades,  nor  a  world  of  phantoms,  as  some  suppose. 

(o)  Luke  24  ;  39. 


VOICE  OP  WARNING.  91 

Jesus,  after  the  resurrection,  was  found  in  the  humble  work 
of  broiling  fish,  and  calling  his  disciples  to  come  and  dine. 
0  what  simplicity,  what  love,  what  condescension !  Wonder 
0  heavens !  Be  astonished  0  earth !  Behold  the  Kedeemer, 
clothed  upon  with  immortality,  and  yet  seated  by  a  fire  of 
coals,  in  the  open  air  with  his  brethren,  humbly  partaking  of 
a' meal  of  fish  actually  prepared  by  his  own  hands.  0  ye 
great  and  noble  of  the  earth,  who  roll  in  luxury  and  refine- 
ment. 0  ye  priests,  who  are  loaded  with  the  honors,  titles, 
dignities,  riches,  and  splendor  of  the  world,  here  is  a  lesson 
for  you  which  should  make  you  blush.  Boast  no  more  of  be- 
ing followers  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus  I 

It  having  been  proved  that  our  Savior  rose  from  the" dead, 
with  the  same  body  which  was  crucified,  possessing  flesh  and 
bones,  and  that  he  ate  and  drank  with  His  disciples,  this  puts 
the  matter  forever  at  rest  respecting  the  resurrection  of  the 
Saints.  But,  if  more  proof  were  wanting,  we  have  it  in  the 
prophecy  of  Job,  before  quoted  in  this  work,  where  he  declares 
that  his  Redeemer  will  stand  in  the  latter  day  upon  the  earth, 
and  he  shall  see  him  in  the  flesh,  though  worms  should  destroy 
the  body  which  he  then  had.  The  fact  is,  the  Saints  will 
again  receive  their  bodies,  every  joint  in  its  perfect  frame, 
being  clothed  upon  with  flesh,  sinews,  and  skin,  like  as  we 
now  are;  the  whole  becoming  immortal,  no  more  to  see  cor- 
ruption, being  clothed  with  a  white  robe  of  fine  linen,  suitable 
for  immortality  to  wear.  Well  did  the  apostle  say,  "in  heaven 
we  have  a  more  enduring  sufatance"  (not  shadow).  In  the 
vision  of  Ezekiel  the  prophet  was  carried  away  in  the  Spirit, 
and  a  valley  of  dry  bones  was  presented  before  him,  and  they 
were  very  numerous  and  very  dry;  and,  while  he  stood  mus- 
ing and  contemplating  the  awful  scene,  a  very  wonderful 
question  was  proposed  to  him : 

"Son  of  man,  can  these  bones  live?  And  I  answered,  0  Lord  God 
thou  knowest.  Again  lie  said  unto  me,  Prophesy  upon  these  bones, 
and  say  unto  them,  0  ye  dry  bones,  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord.11  (p) 

So  he  prophesied  as  he  was  commanded,  and,  as  he  prophe- 
sied, there  was  a  noise,  and  behold  a  shaking,  and  the  bones 
came  together,  bone  to  his  bone,  and  the  sinews  and  the  flesh 
came  upon  them,  and  the  skin  covered  them.  And  again  he 
prophesied  to  the  winds,  saying,  "Come  from  the  four  winds, 
0  breath,  and  breathe  upon  these  slain  that  they  may  live," 
and  the  breath  entered  into  them,  and  they  lived  and  stood 
upon  their  feet,  an  exceeding  great  army. 


(J2  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

We  have  heard  many  comments  upon  this  vision.  Some 
compare  it  to  sinners  being  converted,  and  some  to  the  body 
of  Christ,  the  church,  when  dead  as  to  spiritual  gifts  j  but  the 
church  becoming  dead,  can  no  longer  be  said  to  be  the  body 
of  Christ,  for,  when  she  abides  in  the  true  vine,  she  lives  and 
bears  fruit,  and  is  not  dead;  and  where  she  does  not  abide  in 
Him  she  is  cast  off  as  a  branch,  withered  and  burned,  instead 
of  rising  again.  The  Lord's  own  explanation  of  this  vision 
in  the  same  chapter,  so  far  surpasses  all  other  comments,  that 
I  am  inclined  to  believe  it.  I  therefore  write  it  in  preference 
to  the  other  and  run  the  risk  of  becoming  unpopular  by  so 
doing.  The  Lord  says : 

"Son  of  man,  these  bones  are  the  whole  house  of  Israel;  behold,  they 
say,  Our  bones  are  dried,  and  our  hope  is  lost;  we  are  cut  off  for  our 
parts.  Therefore  prophesy  and  say  unto  them,  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
God:  Behold,  0  my  people,  I  will  open  your  graves,  arid  bring  you  into 
the  land  of  Israel.  And  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord,  when  I  have 
opened  your  graves,  0  my  people,  and  brought  you  up  out  of  your 
graves,  and  shall  put  my  Spirit  in  you,  and  ye  shall  live,  and  I  shall 
place  you  in  your  own  land;  then  shall  ye  know  that  I  the  Lord  have 
spoken  it,  and  performed  it,  saith  the  Lord."  (q) 

All  the  seed  of  Israel  are  to  be  raised  from  the  dead,  and  to 
be  brought  into  the  land  of  Israel,  which  was  given  them  for 
an  everlasting  inheritance.  In  order  to  do  this,  their  bones 
are  to  be  brought  together  bone  to  his  bone,  and  every  part 
of  their  bodies  to  be  reinstated,  each  in  its  place;  and  surely 
when  they  stand  upon  their  feet  they  will  make  an  exceeding 
great  army.  Jesus,  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords,  will 
reign  in  Mount  Zion,  and  in  Jerusalem,  and  before  His 
ancients  and  the  redeemed  of  all  people,  gloriously. 

0  glorious  day !     0  blessed  hope ! 
My  soul  leaps  forward  at  the  thought; 
When  in  that  happy,  happy  land, 
We'll  take  the  ancients  by  the  hand, 
In  love  and  union,  hail  our  friends, 
And  death  and  sorrow  have  an  end. 

I  no  longer  marvel  when  I  call  to  mind  that  Abraham 
counted  himself  a  stranger,  and  a  pilgrim,  seeking  a  better 
country,  and  a  city,  whose  maker  and  builder  is  God.  We 
have  discovered  the  great  secret  which  none  but  the  Saints 
have  understood,  but  which  was  well  understood  by  them  in 
all  ages  of  the  world;  which  is  this,  that  man  is  to  dwell  in 
the  flesh,  upon  the  earth,  with  the  whole  house  of  Israel,  and 
with  all  the  Saints  of  the  Most  High,  not  only  one  thousand 

(p)    37:3,4. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  93 

years,  but  forever.  There  the  Ancient  of  Days,  whose  hair  is 
white  like  pure  wool,  will  sit  enthroned  in  dignity,  as  the  great 
Patriarch,  the  mighty  Prince,  while  thousands  of  thousands 
stand  before  him,  and  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand  minister 
to  him.  There  he  will  hail  all  his  children  who  died  in  the 
faith  of  the  Messiah;  while  Abel,  Enoch,  Noah,  Abraham, 
Job,  and  Daniel,  with  all  the  prophets  and  apostles,  and  all 
the  saints  of  God  of  all  ages,  will  hail  each  other  in  the  flesh, 
and  Jesus,  the  great  Messiah,  will  stand  in  their  midst;  and, 
to  crown  the  whole,  he  will  gird  himself,  and  will  administer 
bread  and  wine  to  the  whole  multitude,  all  of  them  clothed 
in  fine  linen,  clean  and  white.  This  is  the  marriage  supper  of 
the  Lamb.  Blessed  are  they  who  shall  partake  thereof 

Having  traced  the  great  restoration  of  the  earth  and  its 
inhabitants,  until  we  find  them  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  the 
promises  made  to  their  fathers;  and,  having  learned  that  a 
future  state  is  not  a  state  of  shadows  and  fables,  but  a  reality, 
even  a  more  enduring  substance,  we  shall  now  take  a  view  of 
the  division  of  their  land,  and  the  laying  out  of  their  city, 
even  the  holy  city,  where  the  tabernacle  of  God  and  His 
sanctuary  shall  be  forever  more;  for,  of  course,  this  was  the 
city  sought  for  by  Abraham,  and  by  others,  who  found  it  not. 
This  view  is  given  in  the  last  chapter  of  Ezekiel,  where  he 
divides  the  land  by  lot  to  the  whole  twelve  tribes,  and  lays  off 
the  city,  with  its  twelve  gates,  three  on  each  side,  lying  four 
square,  and  the  sanctuary  in  the  midst.  But,  in  his  forty- 
seventh  chapter,  we  have  a  description  of  a  beautiful  river, 
which  will  issue  forth  from  the  eastern  front  of  the  temple, 
from  under  the  sanctuary,  and  run  eastward  into  the  Dead 
Sea,  healing  the  waters,  and  causing  a  great  multitude  of 
fishes,  so  that  from  Engedi  to  Eneglaim  the  fishers  spread 
forth  their  nets;  while  the  miry  places  shall  not  be  healed, 
but  shall  be  given  to  salt.  And,  on  either  side,  shall  grow 
all  trees  for  meat,  whose  leaf  shall  not  fade,  nor  shall  the  fruit 
thereof  be  consumed;  it  shall  bring  forth  new  fruit  according 
to  its  months;  because  their  waters  will  issue  out  of  the 
sanctuary;  and  the  fruit  will  be  for  meat,  and  the  leaf  thereof 
for  medicine. 

There  will  be  also  a  city  which  is  called  Zion,  which  will 
be  most  beautiful,  and  the  chosen  city  of  God,  as  the  proph- 
et states: 

U0  thou  afflicted,  tossed  with  tempest,  and  not  comforted !  behold,  I 
lay  thy  stones  in  fair  colors,  and  lay  thy  foundations  with  sapphires. 


94  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

And  I  will  make  thy  windows  of  agates,  and  thy  gates  of  carbuncles, 
and  all  thy  borders  of  pleasant  stones.  And  all  thy  children  shall  be 
taught  of  the  Lord;  and  great  shall  be  the  peace  of  thy  children.  In 
righteousness  shalt  thou  be  established ;  thou  slialt  be  far  from  oppress- 
ion, for  thou  shalt  not  fear;  and  from  terror,  for  it  shall  not  come  near 
thee.  Behold,  they  shall  surely  gather  together, but  not  by  me;  whoso- 
ever shall  gather  together  against  thee  shall  fall  for  thy  sake.  Behold, 
I  have  created  the  smith  that  bloweth  the  coals  in  the  fire,  and  that 
bringetli  forth  an  instrument  for  his  work;  and  I  have  created  the 
waster  to  destroy.  No  weapon  that  is  formed  against  thee  shall  prosper : 
and  every  tongue  that  shall  rise  agaiiast  thee  in  judgment  thou  shalt  con- 
demn. This  is  the  heritage  of  the  servants  of  the  Lord,  and  their 
righteousness  is  of  me,  saith  the  Lord."  (>•) 

From  these  verses  we  learn  something  about  the  glory  of 
tins  city,  and  of  the  materials  of  which  it  will  be  composed; 
their  stones  of  fair  colors,  their  foundations  of  sapphires,  their 
windows  of  agates,  and  their  gates  of  carbuncles,  and  their 
borders  of  pleasant  stones;  all  these  well  calculated  to  beauti- 
fy the  place  of  his  sanctuary,  and  to  make  the  place  of  his 
feec  glorious,  as  well  as  to  give  a  lustre  and  magnificence  to 
the  whole  city,  of  which  the  Gentiles,  with  all  their  boasted 
wealth  and  grandeur,  can  form  but  a  faint  idea;  and  then,  to 
mark  in  the  same  description,  the  knowledge,  as  well  as  the 
peace  and  security  of  the  inhabitants,  while  they  who  gather 
against  them  to  battle  are  sure  to  fall  for  their  sake;  surely 
this  is  the  heritage  of  the  servants  of  the  Lord;  surely,  this 
is  a  delightful  city,  and  well  worth  a  pilgrimage  like  Abra- 
ham's. Bub,  in  order  to  form  a  more  striking  idea  of  the 
prosperity,  wealth,  beauty,  and  magnificence,  of  Zion,  we  will 
quote  Isaiah,  sixtieth  chapter: 

''Arise,  shine:  for  thy  light  is  come,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is 
risen  upon  thee.  For  behold,  the  darkness  shall  cover  the  earth,  and 
gross  darkness  the  people;  but  the  Lord  shall  arise  upon  thee,  and  his 
glory  shall  be  seen  upon  thee.  And  the  Gentiles  shall  come  to  thy 
light,  and  kings  to  the  brightness  of  thy  rising.  Lift  up  thine  eyes 
round  about,  and  see :  all  they  gather  themselves  together,  they  come  to 
thee :  thy  sons  shall  come  from  far,  and  thy  daughters  shall  be  nursed 
at  thy  side.  Then  thou  shalt  see,  and  flow  together,  and  thine  heart 
shall  fsar,  and  be  enlarged;  because  the  abundance  of  the  sea  shall  be 
converted  unto  thee,  the  forces  of  the  Gentiles  shall  come  unto  thee. 
The  multitude  of  camels  shall  cover  thee,  the  dromedaries  of  Midian  and 
Ephah;  all  they  from  Sheba  shall  come:  they  shall  bring  gold  and  in- 
cense; and  they  shall  shew  forth  the  praises  of  the  Lord.  All  the  flocks 
of  Kedar  shall  be  gathered  together  unto  thee,  the  rams  of  "Nebaioth 
shall  minister  unto  thee :  they  shall  come  up  with  acceptance  on  mine 
altar,  and  I  will  glorify  the  house  of  my  glory.  Yfho  are  these  that  fly 
as  a  cloud,  and  as  the  doves  to  their  windows?  Surely  the  isles  shall 
00  Isaiah  51  : 11-17. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  95 

wait  for  mo,  and  the  ships  of  Tarshish  first,  to  bring  thy  sons  from  far, 
their  silver  and  their  gold  with  them,  unto  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy 
God,  and  to  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  because  ho  hath  glorified  thee.  And 
the  sons  of  strangers  shall  build  up  thy  walls,  and  their  kings  shall  min- 
ister unto  thee :  for  in  my  wrath  I  smote  thee,  but  in  my  favor  have  I 
had  mercy  on  thee.  Therefore  thy  gates  shall  be  open  continually; 
they  shall  not  be  shut  day  nor  night:  that  men  may  bring  unto  thee  the 
forces  of  the  Gentiles,  and  that  their  kings  may  be  brought.  For  the 
nation  and  kingdom  that  will  not  serve  thee  shall  perish;  yea,  those  na- 
tions shall  be  utterly  wasted.  The  glory  of  Lebanon  shall  come  unto 
thee,  the  fir-tree,  the  pine-tree,  and  box  together,  to  beautify  the  place 
of  my  sanctuary ;  and  I  will  make  the  place  of  my  feet  glorious.  The 
sons  also  of  them  that  afflicted  thee  shall  come  bending  unto  thee :  and 
all  they  that  despised  thee  shall  bow  themselves  down  at  the  soles  of 
thy  feet ;  and  they  shall  call  thee  The  City  of  the  Lord.  The  Zion  of  the  Ho- 
ly One  of  Israel.  Whereas  thou  hast  been  forsaken  and  hated,  so  that 
no  man  went  through  thee,  I  will  make  thee  an  eternal  excellency,  the 
joy  of  many  generations.  Thou  slialt  also  suck  the  milk  of  the  Gentiles, 
and  shalt  suck  the  breast  of  kings:  and  thou  shalt  know  that  I  the 
Lord  am  thy  Savior  and  thy  Redeemer,  the  Mighty  One  of  Jacob.  For 
brass  I  will  bring  gold,  and  for  iron  I  will  bring  silver,  and  for  wood  brass, 
and  for  stones  iron;  I  will  also  make  thy  officers  peace,  and  thine  exac- 
tors righteousness.  Violence  shall  no  more  be  heard  in  thy  land,  wast- 
ing nor  destruction  within  thy  borders;  but  thou  shalt  call  thy  walls 
Salvation  and  thy  gates  Praise.  The  sun  shall  be  no  more  thy  light  by 
day;  neither  for  brightness  shall  the  moon  give  light  unto  thee;  but  the 
Lord  shall  be  unto  thee  an  everlasting  light,  and  thy  God  thy  gloiy. 
Thy  sun  shall  no  more  go  down;  neither  shall  thy  moon  withdraw  it- 
self; for  the  Lord  shall  be  thine  everlasting  light,  and  the  days  of  thy 
mourning  shall  be  ended.  Thy  people  also  shall  be  all  righteous;  they 
shall  inherit  the  land  forever,  the  branch  of  my  planting,  the  work  of 
my  hands,  that  I  may  be  glorified.  A  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand, 
and  a  small  one  a  strong  nation;  I  the  Lord  will  hasten  it  in  his  time." 

In  this  chapter  we  learn :  First,  that  there  is  a  city  to  be 
built  in  the  last  days,  unto  which  not  only  Israel,  but  all  the 
nations  of  the  Gentiles  are  to  flow;  and  that  the  nation  and 
kingdom  that  will  not  serve  that  city  shall  perish  and  be  ut- 
terly wasted.  Second,  that  the  name  of  that  city  will  be  Zion, 
the  city  of  the  Lord.  Third,  that  it  is  to  be  the  place  of  his 
sanctuary,  and  the  place  of  his  feet.  Fourth,  that  the  best  of 
lumber,  consisting  of  fir,  pine,  and  boxwood,  is  to  be  brought 
in  great  plenty  to  beautify  the  place  of  his  sanctuary,  and  to 
make  the  place  of  his  feet  glorious.  Fifth,  the  precious 
metals  are  to  abound  in  such  plenty  that  gold  is  to  be  in  the 
place  of  brass,  silver  in  the  place  of  iron,  brass  in  the  place  of 
wood,  iron  in  the  place  of  stones,  while  their  officers  are  to  be 
peace  officers,  and  their  exactors  righteous  exactors;  violence 
is  no  more  to  be  heard  in  the  land,  wasting  nor  destruction 
within  their  borders;  their  walls  are  to  be  salvation,  and  their 


96  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

gates  praise,  while  the  glory  of  God  in  the  midst  of  the  city 
will  outshine  the  sun,  and  the  days  of  their  mourning  will  be 
ended;  the  people  will  all  be  righteous,  and  inherit  the  land 
forever,  being;the  branch  of  the  Lord's  planting,  that  He  may 
be  glorified.  A  small  one  shall  become  a  strong  nation,  and 
the  Lord  will  hasten  it  in  his  time. 

The  Psalmist  David  has  told  us  concerning  the  time  of  the 
building  of  this  city  as  follows : 

llTnou  shalt  arise,  and  have  mercy  upon  Zion,  for  the  time  to  favor 
her,  yea,  the  set  time,  is  come.  For  thy  servants  take  pleasure  in  her 
stones,  and  favor  the  dust  thereof.  So  the  heathen  shall  fear  the  name 
of  the  Lord :  and  all  the  kings  of  the  earth  thy  glory.  When  the  Lord 
shall  build  up  Zion,  he  shall  appear  in  his  glory.  He  will  regard  the 
prayer  of  the  destitute,  and  not  despise  their  prayer.  This  shall  be  writ- 
ten for  generations  to  come :  and  the  people  which  shall  be  created  shall 
praise  the  Lord.  For  he  hath  looked  down  from  the  height  of  his 
sanctuary:  from  heaven  did  the  Lord  behold  the  earth;  to  hear  the 
groaning  of  the  prisoner:  to  loose  those  that  are  appointed  to  death:  to 
declare  the  name  of  the  Lord  in  Zion,  and  his  praise  in  Jerusalem;  when 
the  people  are  gathered  together,  and  the  kingdoms,  to  serve  the 
Lord."  (s) 

From  this  prophecy  we  learn :  First,  that  there  is  a  set 
time  to  build  up  Zion,  or  the  city  of  which  Isaiah  wrote,  just 
before  the  second  coming  of  Christ,  and  that  when  this  city 
shall  be  built,  the  Lord  will  appear  in  his  glory,  and  not  be- 
fore. So  from  this  we  affirm,  that  if  such  a  city  is  never  built, 
then  the  Lord  will  never  conic.  Second,  we  learn  that  the 
people  and  kingdoms  are  to  be  gathered  together  to  serve  the 
Lord,  both  in  Zion  and  in  Jerusalem.  Third,  we  learn  that 
this  Psalm  was  written  expressly  for  the  generation  to  come, 
and  the  people  which  shall  be  created  shall  praise  the  Lord, 
when  they  read  it  and  see  it  fulfilled. 

I  will  now  quote  a  part  of  the  Book  of  Ether,  contained  in 
the  Book  of  Mormon : 

"He  [Kther]  truly  told  them  of  all  things,  from  the  beginning  of  man; 
and  that  after  the  waters  had  receded  from  off  the  face  of  this  land,  it 
became  a  choice  land  above  all  other  lands,  a  chosen  land  of  the  Lord; 
wherefore  the  Lord  would  have  that  all  men  should  serve  him  who 
dwell  upon  the  face  thereof;  and  that  it  was  the  place  of  the  New  Jeru- 
salem, which  should  come  down  out  of  heaven,  and  the  holy  sanctuary 
of  the  Lord.  Behold,  Ether  saw  the  days  of  Christ,  and  he  spake  con- 
cerning a  New  Jerusalem  upon  this  land;  and  he  spake  also  concerning 
the  house  of  Israel,  and  the  Jerusalem  from  whence  Lehi  should  come ; 
after  it  should  be  destroyed  it  should  be  built  up  again  a  holy  city  unto 
the  Lord;  wherefore  it  could  not  be  a  New  Jerusalem,  for  it  had  been 
in  a  time  of  old,  but  it  should  be  built  up  again,  and  become  a  holy  city 
(.<)  Psalms  102  : 13-32. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  9*7 

of  the  Lord:  and  it  should  bo  built  unto  the  house  of  Israel;  and  that  a 
New  Jerusalem  should  be  built  up  upon  this  land,  unto  the  remnant  of 
the  seed  of  Joseph,  for  which  things  there  has  been  a  type;  for  as, 
Joseph  brought  his  father  down  into  the  land  of  Egypt,  even  so  he  died 
there ;  wherefore  the  Lord  brought  a  remnant  of  the  seed  of  Joseph  out 
of  the  land  of  Jerusalem,  that  he  might  be  merciful  unto  the  seed  of  Jo- 
seph, that  they  should  perish  not,  even  as  he  was  merciful  unto  the 
father  of  Joseph,  that  he  should  perish  not:  wherefore  the  remnant  of 
the  house  of  Joseph  shall  be  built  upon  this  land;  and  it  shall  be  a  land 
of  their  inheritance;  and  they  shall  build  up  a  holy  city  unto  the  Lord 
like  unto  the  Jerusalem  of  old;  and  they  shall  no  more  be  confounded, 
until  the  end  come,  when  the  earth  shall  pass  away.  And  there  shall 
be  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth;  and  they  shall  be  like  unto  the  old, 
save  the  old  have  passed  away,  and  all  things  have  become  new.  And 
then  cometh  the  New  Jerusalem ;  and  blessed  are  they  who  dwell  there- 
in; for  it  is  they  whose  garments  are  white  through  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb ;  and  they  are  they  who  are  numbered  among  the  remnant  of  the 
seed  of  Joseph,  who  were  of  the  house  of  Israel.  And  then  also  cometh 
the  Jerusalem  of  old:  and  the  inhabitants  thereof.  Blessed  are  they, 
for  they  have  been  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb;  and  they  are  they 
who  were  scattered  and  gathered  in  from  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth, 
and  from  the  north  countries,  and  are  partakers  of  the  fulfilling  of  the 
covenant  which  God  made  with  their  father  Abraham.  And  when 
these  things  come,  bringcth  to  pass  the  scripture  which  saith,  there  are 
they  who  were  first,  who  shall  be  last;  and  there  are  they  who  were 
last  who  shall  be  first."  (t) 

From  this  prophecy  we  learn:  First,  that  America  is  a 
chosen  land  of  the  Lord  above  every  other  land.  Second,  that 
it  is  the  place  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  which  shall  come  down 
from  God  out  of  heaven,  upon  the  earth,  when  ifc  will  be  re- 
newed. Third,  that  a  new  Jerusalem  will  be  built  in  America, 
to  the  remnant  of  Joseph,  like  unto,  or  after  a  pattern  similar 
to  the  old  Jerusalem  in  the  land  of  Canaan ;  and  that  the  old 
Jerusalem  will  be  rebuilt  at  the  same  time;  and,  this  being 
done,  both  cities  will  continue  in  prosperity  on  the  earth,  until 
the  last  great  change,  when  the  heavens  and  the  earth  will  be 
renewed.  Fourth,  we  learn  that  when  this  change  takes 
place,  the  two  cities  will  be  caught  up  into  heaven,  together 
with  the  inhabitants  thereof,  and,  being  changed  and  made 
new,  they  will  descend  upon  the  new  earth.  The  remnant  of 
Joseph,  and  they  who  will  be  numbered  among  them,  will  in- 
herit the  New  Jerusalem.  And  the  remainder  of  all  the  tribes 
of  Israel,  gathered  from  the  north  countries  and  from  the  four 
quarters  of  the  earth,  will  inhabit  the  other,  and  thus,  all 
things  being  made  new,  we  find  those  who  were  once  strangers 
and  pilgrims  on  the  earth  in  possession  of  that  better  country, 
and  that  city  for  which  they  sought. 

(0  Ether  6:1. 


98  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

John's  Ilevelations  inform  us  how  the  city  will  appear  after 
it  is  made  new : 

"And  I  saw  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth :  for  the  first  heaven  and 
the  first  earth  were  passed  away;  and  there  was  no  more  sea.  And  I 
John  saw  the  holy  city,  New  Jerusalem,  coming  down  from  God  out  of 
heaven,  prepared  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her  husband.  And  I  heard  a 
great  voice  out  of  heaven,  saying,  Behold  the  tabernacle  of  God  is  with 
men,  and  he  will  dwell  with  them,  and  they  shall  be  his  people,  and 
God  himself  shall  be  with  them,  and  be  their  God.  And  God  shall  wipe 
away  all  tears  from  their  eyes;  and  there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither 
sorrow,  nor  crying,  neither  shall  there  be  any  more  pain ;  for  the  former 
things  are  passed  away.  And  he  that  sat  upon  the  throne  said,  Behold, 
I  make  all  things  new.  And  he  said  unto  me,  Write,  for  these  words 
are  true  and  faithful.  And  he  said  unto  me,  It  is  done.  I  am  Alpha  and 
Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end.  I  will  give  unto  him  that  is  athirst 
of  the  fountain  of  the  water  of  life  freely.  He  that  overcometh  shall  in- 
herit all  things;  and  I  shall  be  his  God  and  he  shall  be  my  son.  But 
the  fearful  and  unbelieving,  and  the  abominable,  and  murderers,  and 
whoremongers,  and  sorcerers,  and  idolaters  and  all  liars,  shall  have  their 
part  in  the  lake  which  burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone ;  which  is  the 
second  death.  And  there  came  unto  me  one  of  the  seven  angels,  which 
had  the  seven  vials  full  of  the  seven  plagues,  and  talked  with  me  saying, 
Come  hither,  I  will  shew  thee  the  bride,  the  Lamb's  wife.  And  he 
carried  me  away  in  the  Spirit  to  a  great  and  high  mountain,  and  shewed 
me  that  great  city,  the  holy  Jerusalem,  descending  out  of  heaven  from 
God,  having  the  glory  of  God :  and  her  light  was  like  unto  a  stone  most 
precious,  even  like  a  jasper  stone,  clear  as  crystal;  and  had  a  wall  great 
and  high,  and  had  twelve  gates,  and  at  the  gates  twelve  angels,  and 
names  written  thereon,  which  are  the  names  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  the 
children  of  Israel.  On  the  east,  three  gates ;  on  the  north,  three  gates ; 
on  the  south,  three  gates;  and  on  the  west,  three  gates.  And  the  wall 
of  the  city  had  twelve  foundations,  and  in  them  the  name  of  the  twelve 
apostles  of  the  Lamb.  And  he  that  talked  with  me  had  a  golden  reed 
to  measure  the  city,  and  the  gates  thereof,  and  the  walls  thereof.  And 
the  city  lieth  four-square,  and  the  length  is  as  large  as  the  breadth :  and 
he  measured  the  city  with  the  reed,  twelve  thousand  furlongs.  The 
length,  and  the  breadth,  and  the  height  of  it  are  equal.  And  he  meas- 
ured the  wall  thereof,  an  hundred  and  forty  and  four  cubits,  according  to 
the  measure  of  a  man,  that  is,  of  the  angel.  And  the  building  of  the 
wall  of  it  was  of  jasper:  and  the  city  was  pure  gold,  like  unto  clear  glass. 
And  the  foundations  of  the  wall  of  the  city  were  garnished  with  all  man- 
ner of  precious  stones.  The  first  foundation  was  jasper;  the  second, 
sapphire;  the  third,  a  chalcedony;  the  fourth,  an  emerald;  the  fifth, 
sardonyx;  the  sixth,  sardius;  the  seventh,  chrysolite;  the  eighth,  beryl; 
the  ninth,  a  topaz;  the  tenth,  a  chrysoprasus ;  the  eleventh,  a  jacinth; 
the  twelfth,  amethyst,  And  the  twelve  gates  were  twelve  pearls ;  every 
several  gate  was  of  one  pearl ;  and  the  street  of  the  city  was  pure  gold, 
as  it  were  transparent  glass.  And  I  saw  no  temple  therein:  for  the 
Lord  God  Almighty  and  the  Lamb  are  the  temple  oMt.  And  the  city 
had  no  need  of  the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon  to  shine  in  it;  for  the  glory 
of  God  did  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light  thereof.  And  the  nations 
of  them  which  are  saved  shall  walk  in  the  light  of  it:  and  the  kings  of 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  99 

the  eartli  do  bring  their  glory  and  honor  into  it.  And  the  gates  of  it 
shall  not  be  shut^at  all  by  day :  for  there  shall  be  no  night  there.  And 
they  shall  bring  the  glory  and  honor  of  the  nations  into  it.  And  there 
shall  in  no  wise  enter  into  it  anything  that  defileth,  neither  whatsoever 
worketh  abomination,  or.  maketh  a  lie ;  but  they  which  are  written  in 
the  Lamb's  book  of  life. 

"And  he  shewed  me  a  pure  river  of  water  of  life,  clear  as  crystal, 
proceeding  out  of  the  throne  of  God  and  of  the  Lamb.  In  the  midst  of 
the  street  of  it,  and  on  either  side  of  the  river,  was  there  the  tree  of  life, 
which  bare  twelve  manner  of  fruits,  and  yielded  her  fruit  every  month ; 
and  the  leaves  of  the  tree  were  for  the  healing  of  the  nations.  And 
there  shall  be  no  more  curse :  but  the  throne  of  God  and  of  the  Lamb 
shall  be  in  it;  and  his  servants  shall  serve  him;  and  they  shall  see  his 
face :  and  his  name  shall  be  in  their  foreheads.  And  there  shall  be  no 
night  there;  and  they  need  no  candle,  neither  light  of  the  sun;  for  the 
Lord  God  giveth  them  light;  and  they  shall  reign  forever  and  ever. 
And  he  said  unto  me,  These  sayings  are  faithful  and  true.  And  the 
Lord  God  of  the  holy  prophets  sent  his  angel  to  show  unto  his  servants 
the  things  which  must  shortly  be  done.  Behold,  I  come  quickly:  bles- 
sed is  he  that  keepeth  the  sayings  of  the  prophecy  of  this  book.11  (u) 

From  this  beautiful  description  we  learn  that  on  this  new 
earth  there  will  be  no  sea,  whereas  during  the  thousand  years, 
which  we  have  described,  there  will  be  a  sea,  for  we  read  that 
after  the  thousand  years  are  ended  the  sea  will  give  up  the 
dead  which  are  in  it.  And,  we  learn  that  in  this  new  earth 
there  will  be  no  temple,  whereas  in  the  millennial,  they  who 
"have  washed  their  robes  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb/'  will  "serve  Him  day  and  night  in  His  tern- 
pie."  (r) 

Now  of  the  things  of  which  we  have  spoken  this  is  the 
sum :  Isaiah  and  other  prophets  have  given  a  description  of 
Zion  and  Jerusalem,  as  they  will  be  built  up  in  the  last  days, 
and  as  they  will  continue  during  the  Millenium;  and  John  has 
given  a  description  of  them  as  they  will  be  after  their  final 
change,  when  they  will  come  down  from  God  out  of  heaven 
and  rest  upon  the  new  earth.  But  Ether  has  given  us  a 
sketch  of  them  as  they  are  to  be,  both  in  their  temporal,  and 
in  their  eternal  state;  and  he  has  told  us  plainly  concerning 
their  first  location,  namely:  the  New  Jerusalem  in  America, 
inhabited  by  the  remnant  of  Joseph,  and  those  gathered  with 
them,  who  will  wash  their  robes  and  make  them  white  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb:  and  the  other  Jerusalem  in  its  former 
place,  inhabited  by  the  house  of  Israel,  gathered  from  the 
north  countries,  and  from  all  the  countries  where  they  have 
been  scattered,  having  washed  their  robes  and  made  thorn 

(M)  Rev.  21 ;  22  : 1-7.    (t>)  Rov.  7  : 14, 15, 


100  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  And  here  is  the  end  of  the 
matter.  God  will  gather  them  from  all  the  face  of  the  land, 
and  this  gathering  is  clearly  predicted  in  the  Book  of  Mormon, 
and  in  other  revelations,  to  be  at  the  place  before  appointed, 
and  at  the  time  set  for  its  fulfillment;  and  except  the  Gentiles 
repent  of  all  their  abominations,  and  embrace  the  same  cove- 
nant, they  will  soon  be  utterly  destroyed  from  off  the  face  of 
this  land,  as  it  is  written  by  Isaiah  :  "The  nation  and  king- 
dom that  will  not  serve  thee  shall  perish,  yea,  those  nations 
shall  be  utterly  wasted."  In  the  Book  of  Mormon  it  is  re- 
corded that  Jesus  said : 

"Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  I  give  unto  you  a  sign,  that  ye  may  know  the 
time  when  these  things  shall  be  about  to  take  place,  that  I  shall  gather 
in  from  their  long  dispersion,  my  people,  0  house  of  Israel,  and  shall 
establish  again  among  them  my  Zion.  And  behold,  this  is  the  thing 
which  I  shall  give  unto  you  for  a  sign,  for  verily  I  say  unto  you,  that 
when  these  things  which  I  declare  unto  you,  and  which  I  shall  declare 
unto  you  hereafter  of  myself,  and  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
which  shall  be  given  unto  you  of  the  Father,  shall  be  made  known  unto 
the  Gentiles,  that  they  may  know  concerning  this  people  who  are  a 
remnant  of  the  house  of  Jacob,  and  concerning  this  my  people  who  shall 
be  scattered  by  them;  verih'-,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  when  these  things 
shall  be  made  known  unto  them  of  the  Father,  and  shall  come  forth  of 
the  Father,  from  them  unto  you,  for  it  is  wisdom  in  the  Father  that  they 
should  be  established  in  this  land,  and  be  set  up  as  a  free  people  by  the 
power  of  the  Father,  that  these  things  might  come  forth  from  them  unto 
a  remnant  of  your  seed,  that  the  covenant  of  the  Father  may  be  fulfilled 
which  he  hath  covenanted  with  his  people,  0  liouss  of  Israel;  therefore, 
when  these  works,  and  the  works  which  shall  be  wrought  among  you 
hereafter,  shall  come  forth  from  the  Gentiles  unto  your  seed,  which  shall 
dwindle  in  unbelief  because  of  iniquity;  for  thus  it  behooveth  the  Father 
that  it  should  come  forth  from  the  Gentiles,  that  he  may  shew  forth  his 
power  unto  the  Gentiles,  for  this  cause,  that  the  Gentiles,  if  they  will 
not  harden  their  hearts,  that  they  may  repent  and  come  unto  me,  and 
be  baptized  in  my  name,  and  know  of  the  true  points  of  my  doctrine, 
that  they  may  be  numbered  among  my  people,  0  house  of  Israel :  and 
when  these  things  come  to  pass,  that  thy  seed  shall  begin  to  know  these 
things,  it  shall  be  a  sign  unto  them,  that  they  may  know  that  the  work 
of  the  Father  has  already  commenced  unto  the  fulfilling  of  the  covenant 
which  he  hath  made  unto  the  people  who  are  of  the  house  of  Israel. 
And  when  that  day  shall  come  it  shall  come  to  pass  that  kings  shall  shut 
their  mouths ;  for  that  which  had  not  been  told  them  shall  they  see ;  and 
that  which  they  had  not  heard  shall  they  consider.  For  in  that  day,  for 
my  sake  shall  the  Father  work  a  work,  which  shall  be  a  great  and  a 
marvelous  work  among  them ;  and  there  shall  be  among  them  those  who 
will  not  believe  it,  although  a  man  shall  declare  it  unto  them.  But  be- 
hold the  life  of  my  servant  shall  be  in  my  hand ;  therefore  they  shall 
not  hurt  him,  although  he  shall  be  marred  because  of  them.  Yet  I  will 
heal  him,  for  I  will  shew  unto  them  that  my  wisdom  is  greater  than  the 
cunning  of  the  devil.  Therefore  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  whosoever 


VOICE  OP  WARNING.  101 

will  not  believe  in  my  words,  who  am  Jesus  Christ,  whom  the  Father 
shall  cause  him  to  bring  forth  unto  the  Gentiles,  and  shall  give  unto  him 
power  that  he  shall  bring  them  forth  unto  the  Gentiles,  (it  shall  be  done 
even  as  Moses  said),  they  shall  be  cut  off  from  among  my  people  who 
are  of  the  covenant;  and  my  people  who  are  a  remnant  of  Jacob,  shall 
be  among  the  Gentiles,  yea,  in  the  midst  of  them,  as  a  lion  among  the 
beasts  of  the  forest,  as  a  young  lion  among  the  flocks  of  sheep,  who,  if 
he  go  through  both  treadeth  down  and  teareth  in  pieces,  and  none  can 
deliver.  Their  hand  shall  be  lifted  up  upon  their  adversaries,  and  all 
their  enemies  shall  be  cut  off.  Yea,  wo  be  unto  the  Gentiles,  except 
they  repent,  for  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  saith  the  Father  that  I 
will  cut  off  thy  horses  out  of  the  midst  of  thee,  and  I  will  destroy  thy 
chariots,  and  I  will  cut  off  the  cities  of  thy  land,  and  throw  down  all  thy 
strong  holds;  and  I  will  cut  off  witchcrafts  out  of  thy  land,  and  thou 
shalt  have  no  more  soothsayers;  thy  graven  images  I  will  also  cut  off, 
and  thy  standing  images  out  of  the  midst  of  thee ;  and  thou  shalt  no 
more  worship  the  works  of  thy  hands;  and  I  will  pluck  up  the  groves 
out  of  the  midst  of  thee ;  so  will  I  destroy  thy  cities.  And  it  shall  come 
to  pass  that  all  lyings,  and  deceivings,  and  envyings,  and  strifes,  and 
priestcrafts  and  whoredoms  shall  be  done  away.  For  it  shall  come  to 
pass,  saith  the  Father,  that  at  that  day,  whosoever  will  not  repent  and 
come  unto  my  beloved  Son,  them  will  I  cut  off  from  among  my  people, 
0  house  of  Israel ;  and  I  will  execute  vengeance  and  fury  upon  them, 
even  as  upon  the  heathen,  such  as  they  have  not  heard. 

uBut  if  they  will  repent  and  hearken  unto  my  words,  and  harden  not 
their  hearts,  I  will  establish  my  church  among  them,  and  they  shall 
come  in  unto  the  covenant,  and  be  numbered  among  this  the  remnant  of 
Jacob ;  and  also,  as  many  of  the  house  of  Israel  as  shall  come,  that  they 
may  build  a  city,  which  shall  be  called  the  New  Jerusalem;  and  then 
shall  they  assist  my  people  that  they  may  be  gathered  in,  who  are  scat- 
tered upon  all  the  face  of  the  land,  in  unto  the  New  Jerusalem.  And 
then  shall  the  power  of  heaven  come  down  among  them;  and  I  also  will 
be  in  the  midst,  and  then  shall  the  work  of  the  Father  commence,  at 
that  day  even  when  this  gospel  shall  be  preached  among  the  remnant  of 
this  people.  Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  at  that  day  shall  the  work  of  the 
Father  commence  among  all  the  dispersed  of  my  people ;  yea,  even  the 
tribes  which  have  been  lost,  which  the  Father  hath  led  away  out  of 
Jerusalem.  Yea,  the  work  shall  commence  among  all  the  dispersed  of 
my  people,  with  the  Father,  to  prepare  the  way  whereby  they  may 
come  unto  me,  that  they  may  call  on  the  Father  in  my  name ;  yea,  and 
then  shall  the  .work  commence  with  the  Father,  among  all  nations,  in 
preparing  the  way  whereby  his  people  may  be  gathered  home  to  the 
land  of  their  inheritance.  And  they  shall  go  out  from  all  nations;  and 
they  shall  not  go  out  in  haste,  nor  go  by  flight;  for  I  will  go  before 
them,  saith  the  Father,  and  be  their  reward,  (w) 

O  ye  remnant  of  Joseph,  your  secret  is  revealed,  ye  who 
arc  despised,  smitten,  scattered,  and  driven  by  the  Gentiles, 
from  place  to  place,  until  you  are  left  few  in  number.  "0 
thou  afflicted,  tossed  with  tempest  and  not  comforted,"  lift  up 
your  heads  and  rejoice,  for  your  redemption  draweth  nigh; 

(w)  Book  of  Nephi,  9tli  and  10th  chapters. 


102  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

yea,  we  have  found  your  record;  the  oracles  of  God  which 
were  committed  to  your  forefathers,  and  which  have  been 
hidden  from  you  for  a  long  time,  because  of  unbelief,  behold, 
they  will  be  restored  to  you  again;  then  shall  you  rejoice,  for 
you  shall  know  that  it  is  a  blessing  from  the  hand  of  God,  and 
the  scales  of  darkness  shall  begin  to  fall  from  your  eyes,  and 
the  Gentiles  shall  not  again  have  power  over  you,  but  you 
shall  be  gathered  together  and  be  built  up,  and  shall  again  be- 
come a  delightsome  people,  and  the  time  has  come;  yea,  the 
work  has  already  commenced;  for  we  have  seen  you  gathered 
together  from  all  parts  of  our  land  unto  the  place  which  God 
has  appointed  for  the  Gentiles  to  gather  you.  The  hand  of 
your  Great  God  is  in  all  this;  and  it  was  all  foretold  by  your 
forefathers. 

It  is  with  mingled  feelings  of  joy  and  sorrow  that  I  reflect 
upon  these  things;  sorrow,  when  I  think  how  they  have  been 
smitten;  joy  when  I  reflect  upon  the  happy  change  that  now 
awaits  them;  and  sorrow  again  when  I  turn  my  thoughts  to 
the  awful  destruction  that  awaits  the  Gentiles,  except  they 
repent.  But  the  eternal  purposes  of  Jehovah  must  roll  on 
until  all  his  promises  are  fulfilled,  and  none  can  hinder:  there- 
fore, 0  God,  thy  will  be  done.  But,  while  I  still  linger  upon 
this  subject,  with  feelings  that  are  easier  felt  than  described, 
niethinks  I  can  almost  hear  the  poor  Indian's  mournful  chant 
resounding  through  his  native  woods.  It  whispers  thus: 

Great  Spirit  of  our  fathers,  now  draw  near ; 

Pity  the  red  man,  to  his  cries  giro  ear ; 

Long  hast  thou  scourged  him  with  thy  chastening  sore ; 

When  will  thy  vengenco  cease,  thy  wrath  be  o'er? 

When  will  the  white  man's  dire  ambition  cease, 
And  let  our  scattered  remnants  dwell  in  peace? 
Or  shall  we  (driven  to  the  western  shore) 
Become  extinct,  and  fall  to  rise  no  more? 

Forbid,  Great  Spirit !  make  thy  mercy  known, 
Reveal  thy  truth,  thy  wandering  captives  own ; 
Make  bare  thine  arm  of  power  for  our  release, 
And  o'er  the  earth  extend  the  reign  of  peace. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  DEALINGS  OP  GOD  WITH  ALL  NATIONS  IN  REGARD  t6 
REVELATION. 

"And  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men  to  dwell  on  all  the 
face  of  the  earth,  and  hath  determined  the  times  before  appointed,  and 
the  bounds  of  their  habitation:  that  they  should  seek  the  Lord,  if  haply 
they  might  feel  after  him,  and  find  him,  though  ho  bo  not  far  from  every 
one  of  us:  for  in  him  we  live,  and  move,  and  have  our  being.'1  (x) 

In  this  text  we  learn,  First  that  all  nations  are  made  of  one 
blood.  Second,  that  they  are  designed  to  dwell  on  all  the 
face  of  the  earth,  America  not  excepted.  Third,  that  the 
Lord  had  determined  the  bounds  of  their  habitation,  that  is 
he  has  divided  the  earth  among  his  children,  giving  each 
nation  that  portion  which  seemed  good  to  him ;  for  instance,  the 
land  of  Canaan,  to  Israel ;  Mount  Seir,  to  Esau ;  Arabia,  to  Ish- 
mael;  America,  to  the  remnant  of  Joseph,  etc.,  as  a  father 
parcels  off  a  large  tract  of  land  to  his  several  children.  And 
Fourth,  he  has  granted  unto  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  the 
privilege  of  feeling  after  and  finding  him ;  for  he  is  not  far  from 
every  one  of  them;  whether  they  are  in  Asia,  Africa,  Europe, 
or  America,  or  even  upon  the  islands  of  the  sea.  Now,  if  any 
nation  in  any  age  of  the  world,  or  any  part  of  the  earth,  should 
happen  to  live  up  to  their  privilege,  what  would  they  obtain  ?  I 
answer,  revelations,  for  the  best  of  reasons ;  because  no  people  ever 
found  God  in  any  other  way,  nor  ever  will;  therefore  if  they 
found  God,  they  found  him  by  revelation  direct  from  himself, 
by  his  revealing  his  will  to  them ;  and  if  they  did  not  find  him 
in  this  way  they  never  knew  him;  and  if  they  did  obtain 
revelation  it  was  their  privilege  to  write  it,  and  to  make  a 
record  of  the  same,  and  teach  it  to  their  children;  and  this 
record  would  be  sacred,  because  it  would  contain  the  word  of 
God;  and  thus  it  would  be  holy  scripture  and  as  good  as  the 
Bible;  no  matter  whether  it  was  written  by  the  Jews,  the  ten 

(x)  Acts  17  :  26-28. 


104  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

tribes,  the  Nephites,  or  the  Gentiles.  I  would  just  as  soon 
have  the  gospel  written  by  Nephi,  Mormon,  Moroni,  or  Alma, 
as  to  have  the  gospel  ^written  by  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke,  or 
John.  Again,  I  would  just  as  soon  believe  a  revelation  given 
in  America,  as  to  believe  a  revelation  given  in  Asia;  for,*if 
ever  a  nation  failed  'to  get  a  revelation,  it  was  because  they 
did  not  attain  unto  that  which  was  their  privilege.  Why 
then  was  any  nation  ever  left  in  darkness,  from  age  to  age, 
without  the  light  of  revelation  to  guide  them  ?  I  answer, 
because  their  forefathers  in  some  age  of  the  world  rejected 
revelation,  cast  out  and  killed  the  prophets,  and  turned  a 
deaf  ear  to  the  things  of  God,  until  God  took  away  that  which 
they  enjoyed  and  committed  it  to  another  people,  and  left 
them  from  generation  to  generation  in  ignorance,  until  he 
should  see  fit  to  send  his  light  and  truth  again  to  that 
nation.  But  those  who  reject  no  light  are  under  no  condem- 
nation, and  the  mercy  of  God  hath  claim  upon  them,  through 
the  blood  of  Christ  which  atoneth  for  the  sins  of  the  world. 
The  heathen,  who  never  had  the  light  of  revelation,  will  not 
be  condemned  for  rejecting  that  light;  while  their  forefathers 
who  rejected  the  light  are  condemned;  for  this  is  their  con- 
demnation, that  when  light  comes  men  reject  it. 

On  this  subject,  let  us  examine  the  history  of  various  ages: 
In  the  morn  of  creation  men  had  light  by  direct  revelation, 
for  Adam,  Cain,  and  Abel  talked  with  the  Lord.  In  the 
next  age  men  had  light  by  revelation,  for  Enoch  walked  with 
the  Lord,  and  not  only  saw  the  first  coming  of  Christ,  but  his 
second  coming  also,  and  he  exclaimed : 

"Behold,  the  Lord  cometh  with  ten  thousand  of  his  Saints  to  execute 
judgment  upon  all."  (y) 

From  which  it  appears  that  Enoch  knew  and  prophesied 
concerning  the  Messiah,  with  all  the  plainness  of  an  apostle. 
Again,  in  Noah's  day  there  were  positive  revelations.  From 
the  days  of  Israel  the  oracles  of  God  seemed  to  pertain  more 
particularly  to  them,  and  they  were  chosen  for  that  very  pur- 
pose, namely,  that  to  them  might  be  committed  the  oracles  of 
God,  the  priesthood,  the  service  of  God,  and  the  promises. 
In  process  of  time  Israel  rendered  themselves  unworthy  of  a 
continuance  of  such  blessings,  by  stoning  and  killing  the 
prophets,  and  by  rejecting  the  Messiah  and  those  that  God 
sent  unto  them,  until  at  length  the  Lord  took  the  kingdom 
from  them,  as  a  nation,  and  gave  it  to  the  Gentiles,  in  the 

(y)  Jude  14, 15. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  105 

meantime  winking  at  all  the  ignorance  through  which  the 
Gentiles  had  passed.  As  soon  as  the  kingdom  of  God  was 
given  to  the  Gentiles  he  commanded  them  everywhere  to  re- 
pent, and  then  if  they  did  not  do  it  they  were  under  condem- 
nation, but  not  before.  As  soon  as  the  kingdom  was  taken 
from  the  Jews  the  fruits  of  it  disappeared  from  among  them, 
and  they  were  dispersed  among  all  the  nations  of  the  earth, 
where  they  have  not  ^heard  the  voice  of  inspiration,  where 
they  did  not  hear  the  voices  of  living  prophets  any  more,  be- 
cause they  rejected,  persecuted,  and  slew  those  who  were  sent 
unto  them  in  their  own  land.  That  generation  of  Jews  who 
were  guilty  of  these  sins  were  under  condemnation,  and  there- 
fore they  were  scattered  among  all  nations,  but  subsequent 
generations  were  not  under  this  condemnation,  because  no 
prophets  were  sent  unto  them.  The  Savior  said : 

"If  I  had  not  come  and  spoken  unto  them,  they  had  not  had  sin:  but 
now  they  have  no  cloak  for  their  sin."  (z) 

He  also  said,  "This  is  the  condemnation,  that  light  is  come  into  tho 
world,  and  men  love  darkness  rather  than  light,  because  their  deeds 
are  evil."  (a) 

When  Jesus  and  his  co-laborers  brought  light  and  truth 
into  the  world,  those  who  rejected  it  were  under  condemmv 
tion;  but,  if  these  inspired  messengers  had  not  come,  they 
would  not  have  been  under  this  condemnation,  otherwise  the 
words  of  the  man  who  received  only  one  talent  would  be  true, 
when  he  said: 

"Lord,  I  knew  thee  that  thou  art  an  hard  man,  reaping  where  them 
hast  not  sown,  and  gathering  where  thou  hast  not  strewed."  (b) 

This  is  not  the  manner  of  God's  dealing  with  the  children 
of  men,  for  Jesus  said : 

"That  servant  which  knew  tho  Lord's  will,  and  prepared  not  himself, 
neither  did  according  to  his  will  shall  be  beaten  with  many  stripes.  But 
he  that  knew  not,  and  did  commit  things  worthy  of  stripes,  shall  be 
beaten  with  few  stripes.  For  unto  whomsoever  much  is  given,  of  him 
shall  be  much  required:  and  to  whom  men  have  committed  much,  of 
him  will  they  ask  the  more."  (c) 

Paul  also  said: 

"Tho  times  of  this  ignorance  God  winked  at,  but  now  commandeth  all 
men  everywhere  to  repent."  (d) 

Thus  we  discover  that  the  generations  which  have  passed 
away  without  being  visited  by  prophets  or  messengers  from 
God,  were  not  under  condemnation  for  rejecting  prophets  and 

(*)  John  15  :  22.  (a)  John  19  :  3.  (M  Matt  25  •  24 

(c)  Luke  12  47,  48.  (d)  Acts  17  :_30, 


106  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

messages;  and,  if  the  Spirit  of  God  wrought  upon  any  of 
them,  during  the  dark  ages  which  have  passed  away  since 
their  fathers  rejected  the  messages  which  God  sent  unto  them 
by  Christ  and  his  apostles,  they  will  only  be  accountable  for 
just  as  much  light  as  they  have  received,  and  for  no  more. 
The  Spirit  of  God  wrought  upon  Columbus  and  by  it  he  dis- 
covered America. 

"It  wrought  upon  other  Gentiles,  and  they; went  forth  out  of  cap- 
tivity, upon  the  many  waters."  (e) 

Nephi  prophesied  concerning  the  Gentiles  who  came  to 
this  land,  and  he  said: 

"I  beheld  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  that  it  was  upon  the  Gentiles,  and 
they  did  prosper,  and  obtain  the  land  for  their  inheritance.  *  *  *  *  I, 
Nephi,  beheld  that  the  Gentiles  who  had  gone  forth  out  of  captivity, 
did  humble  themselves  before  the  Lord ;  and  the  power  of  the  Lord  was 
with  them,  and  I  beheld  that  their  mother  Gentiles  were  gathered  to- 
gether upon  the  land  also,  to  battle  against  them ;  and  I  beheld  that  the 
power  of  God  was  upon  them;  and  also  that  the  wrath  of  God  was 
upon  all  those  that  were  gathered  together  against  them  to  battle. 
And  I,  Nephi,  beheld  that  the  Gentiles  that  had  gone  out  of  captivity, 
were  delivered  by  the  power  of  God,  out  of  the  hands  of  all  other 
nations."  (/; 

Thus  the  Spirit  of  God  operated  upon  their  minds  by  im- 
pressions, when  they  had  not  sufficient  faith  to  obtain  the  gift 
of  prophecy.  But,  in  this  age  God  has  spoken  from  the 
heavens,  and  commissioned  men  to  go,  first  to  the  Gentiles, 
commanding  them  everywhere  to  repent,  and  obey  the  gospel ; 
and  then  he  has  commanded  them  to  go  to  the  Jews  also,  and 
to  command  them  to  repent  and  obey  the  gospel;  thus  restor- 
ing again  that  which  has  been  so  long  lost  from  the  earth ; 
and,  wherever  their  voices  shall  be  heard,  issuing  this  procla- 
mation in  the  name  of  Jesus,  according  as  He  has  commanded 
them,  then  and  there  the  people  are  under  obligation  to  repent 
and  be  baptized;  and  he  that  repents  and  is  baptized  shall  be 
saved,  and  he  that  does  not  believe  their  testimony  neither 
repent,  nor  is  baptized,  shall  be  damned;  for  this  plain  reason, 
because  God  has  sent  them,  by  revelation,  with  this  message, 
to  this  generation;  and  he  that  rejects  the  least  of  God's  am- 
bassadors rejects  him  that  sent  him;  and,  therefore,  they  are 
under  condemnation  from  that  time  forth ;  but  the  message 
which  God  has  sent  these  men  with  is  binding  only  on  the 
generation  to  which  it  is  sent;  and  is  not  binding  at  all  upon 
those  who  were  dead  and  gone  before  it  came.  Neither  is  it 
binding  on  any  generation  which  shall  come  after,  unless  God 

(e)  Book  of  Mormon,  1  Neplii  3  :  36.        (/)  Book  of  Mormon,  1  Nephi  3  :  30. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  107 

shall  raise  up  men  and  send  them  with  the  same  gospel;  and 
that  generation  to  whom  he  sends  them  will  be  saved  or 
damned,  according  as  they  receive  or  reject  the  testimony  of 
the  messengers. 

People  frequently  ask  this  question,  saying,  "If  God  has 
sent  men  with  certain  truths,  which  are  binding  on  the  people, 
and  without  which  they  cannot  be  saved,  what  will  become  of 
the  good  people  who  have  died  before  this  message  came?" 
I  answer,  if  they  obeyed  the  message  which  God  sent  to  their 
own  generation,  they  will  be  saved;  but  if  not,  they  will  be 
damned.  But  if  God  sent  no  message  to  that  generation,  then 
they  have  rejected  none,  and  consequently  are  under  no  con- 
demnation, and  they  will  rise  up  in  judgment  against  this 
generation  and  condemn  it;  for,  if  they  had  received  the  same 
blessings  which  are  now  offered  to  us,  they  would,  perhaps, 
have  received  them  gladly.  The  principle  of  condemnation, 
in  all  ages  of  the  world,  is  no  other  than  rejecting  the  very 
message  which  God  sends  to  that  age;  while  they  pretend  to 
cleave  closely  to  that  which  he  has  sent  in  former  ages. 

" Wo  unto  you,  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites !  because  ye  build 
the  tombs  of  the  prophets,  and  garnish  the  sepulchres  of  the  righteous, 
and  say,  'If  we  had  been  in  the  days  of  our  fathers,  we  would  not  have 
been  partakers  with  them  in  the  blood  of  the  prophets.'  "Wherefore  ye 
are  witnesses  unto  yourselves,  that  ye  are  the  children  of  them  which 
killed  the  prophets.1'  (g) 

This  was  the  testimony  of  the  Savior  to  the  Jews,  who 
were  pretending  to  stand  stiffly  for  their  former  prophets,  and 
at  the  same  time  rejected  Jesus  and  his  apostles.  And  so  it 
is  now  in  the  nineteenth  century.  You,  Christians,  (so-called), 
garnish  the  tombs  of  the  Messiah  and  his  former  apostles,  and 
even  build  fine  chapels  to  their  memory,  entitling  them  St. 
Paul's  church,  St.  ^Peter's  church,  St.  John's  church,  &c.; 
and  you  say  if  we  had  lived  in  the  days  of  the  apostles  we 
would  not  have  stoned  and  killed  them.  But  ye  yourselves 
are  witnesses,  that  ye  allow  the  deeds  of  those  who  killed 
Christ  and  the  apostles,  and  you  build  chapels  in  honor  of 
them;  while  at  the  same  time  when  a  prophet  or  an  apostle 
comes  among  you,  you  forthwith  shut  your  houses  against 
him,  as  soon  as  he  testifies  of  what  God  has  sent  him  to  testify; 
for  you  say  there  are  to  be  no  more  prophets  or  apostles  on 
the  earth,  and  forthwith  pronounce  him  a  false  prophet;  and 
if  a  mob  rises  and  kills  him,  or  burns  his  house,  or  destroys 
his  goods,  you  will  either  rejoice,  or  sit  in  silence,  and  give 

(0)  Matt.  23  :  29-31. 


108  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

countenance  to  the  deed,  and  perhaps  cry  "false  prophet," 
while  your  presses  and  pulpits  teem  with  all  manner  of  false- 
hoods concerning  him.  Wo  unto  you,  priests,  Pharisees, 
hypocrites;  but  fill  ye  up  the  measure  of  the  ancient  priests 
and  Pharisees,  for  as  they  did,  so  do  ye.  But  vengeance  be- 
longs to  God,  who  will  speedily  avenge  his  elect,  who  cry  unto 
him  day  and  night. 

But  to  return  to  the  subject  of  revelation ;  "There  is  noth- 
ing secret  that  shall  not  be  revealed;  neither  hid  that  shall 
not  be  known;"  this  was  a  maxim  of  the  Savior.  And  again, 
"the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  is  to  cover  the  earth,  as  the  waters 
cover  the  sea."  Now,  I  ask,  how  this  great  overturn  is  to  be 
brought  about?  And  I  know  no  better  way  to  answer  this 
question,  than  to  quote  the  prophecy  of  Nephi,  in  the  Book 
of  Mormon. 

"For  I  command  all  men,  both  in  the  cast  and  in  tho  west,  and  in  the 
north,  and  in  the  south,  and  in  the  islands  of  the  sea,  that  they  shall 
write  the  words  which  I  speak  unto  them :  for  out  of  the  books  which 
shall  be  written  I  will  judge  the  world,  every  man  according  to  their 
works,  according  to  that  which  is  written.  For  behold,  I  shall  speak 
unto  the  Jews,  and  they  shall  write  it:  and  I  shall  also  speak  unto  tho 
Nephites  and  they  shall  write  it;  and  I  shall  also  speak  unto  the  other 
tribes  of  the  house  of  Israel,  which  I  have  led  away,  and  they  shall  write 
it;  and  I  shall  also  speak  unto  all  tho  nations  of  the  earth  and  they 
shall  write  it. 

"And  it  shall  come  to  pass  that  the  Jews  shall  have  tho  words  of  tho 
Nephites,  and  the  Nephites  shall  have  the  words  of  tho  Jews :  and  tho 
Nephites  and  the  Jews  shall  have  tho  words  of  the  lost  tribes  of  Israel; 
and  the  lost  tribes  of  Israel  shall  have  tho  words  of  the  Nephites  and 
tho  Jews. 

"And  it  shall  come  to  pass  that  my  people  which  are  of  the  house  of 
Israel,  shall  be  gathered  home  unto  tho  lands  of  their  possessions ;  and 
my  word  also  shall  be  gathered  in  one.  And  I  will  show  unto  them 
that  fight  against  my  word  and  against  my  people,  who  are  of  tho  house 
of  Israel,  that  I  am  God,  and  that  I  covenanted  with  Abraham,  that  I 
would  remember  his  seed  forever."  (h) 

(h)  Book  of  Mormon,  2  Nephi  12  :  8-40. 


AN  ANALYSIS  OF  ISAIAH, 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 

The  firsfc  six  verses  of  this  chapter  portray  the  degradation, 
distress  and  punishments  of  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem/and 
the  ruin  of  their  city;  which  is  completed  with  "the  flame  of 
devouring  fire/'  after  which  "all  the  nations"  that  have  been 
instrumental  in  this  distress  and  ruin,  are  represented  in  the 
condition  of  one  in  a  dream : 

"It  shall  even  be  with  them  as  when  a  hungry  man  dreameth,  and, 
behold,  ho  eateth;  but  he  awaketh,  and  his  soul  is  empty;  or  as  when 
a  thirsty  man  dreameth,  and,  behold,  he  drinketh ;  but  he  awaketh,  and 
behold,  ho  is  faint,  and  his  soul  hath  appetite ;  so  shall  the  multitude  of 
all  the  nations  be  that  fight  against  Mount  Zion." 

The  phrase,  "the  nations/'  usually,  if  not  always,  indicates, 
the  Gentiles;  but  in  Luke,  (a)  we  are  told  plainly  that  these 
nations  are  the  Gentiles,  who  are  to  carry  away  captive  the 
people,  "and  Jerusalem  shall  be  trodden  down  of  the  Gentiles, 
until  the  times  of  the  Gentiles  be  fulfilled."  Hence  we  must 
look  to  the  nations  of  the  Gentiles  for  the  subjects  of  this 
prophetic  description  of  dreamy  existence.  The  prophet  says 
further: 

"Stay  yourselves,  and  wonder;  cry  yo  out  and  cry:  they  are  drunken, 
but  not  with  wine;  they  stagger,  but  not  with  strong  drink." 

Here  we  find  these  nations  of  the  Gentiles  in  a  dreamy, 
empty,  drunken,  and  staggering  condition;  and  to  this  are 
added  other  characteristics: 

"For  the  Lord  hath  poured  out  upon  you  the  spirit  of  deep  sleep,  and 
hath  closed  your  eyes :  the  prophets  and  your  rulers,  the  seers  hath  he 
covered."  (b) 

Thus  are  these  nations  under  the  influence  of  "the  spirit  of 
deep  sleep/'  with  eyes  closed,  without  prophets  or  seers. 

"And  the  vision  of  all  is  become  unto  you  as  the  words  of  a  book  that 
is  sealed,  [equivalent  to  saying  that  they  shall  have  no  vision  from  God], 
which  [words]  men  deliver  to  one  that  is  learned,  saying,  Read  this,  I 
pray  thco:  and  he  saith,  I  cannot:  for  it  is  sealed."  (c) 

(a)  Luke  21  :  24       (6)  Isaiah  29  : 10.       (c)  Isaiah  29  : 11. 


no  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

"And  the  book  is  delivered  to  him  that  is  not  learned,  saying,  Read 
this,  I  pray  thee:  and  he  saith,  I  am  not  learned."  (d) 

This  may  be  called  the  prophetic  history  of  what  took  place 
when  the  plates  from  which  the  Book  of  Mormon  was  taken 
came  forth,  as  related  on  pages  forty  and  forty-one  of  this 
work,  which  the  reader  is  now  invited  to  carefully  examine: 

"Wherefore  the  Lord  said,  Forasmuch  as  this  people  draw  near  me 
with  their  mouth,  and  with  their  lips  do  honor  me,  but  have  removed 
their  heart  far  from  me,  and  their  fear  toward  me  is  taught  by  the  pre- 
cepts of  men ;  therefore  behold,  I  will  proceed  to  do  a  marvelous  work 
among  this  people,  even  a  marvelous  work  and  a  wonder:  for  the  wis- 
dom of  their  wise  men  shall  perish,  and  the  understanding  of  their  pru- 
dent men  shall  be  hid."  (e) 

These  verses  show  the  nature  of  that  blindness  which  should 
be  prevailing  when  the  sealed  book  should  come  forth.  Draw- 
ing near  to  God  with  the  mouth,  and  honoring  him  with  the 
lips,  when  the  heart  is  not  in  the  service,  marks  it  as  a  hypo- 
critical generation.  And  teaching  (with  the  lips  only)  the 
fear  of  the  Lord  by  the  precepts  of  men,  shows  that  the  religion 
of  that  day  is  based  upon  human  creeds;  and  the  marvelous 
work  which  God  will  do,  that  will  destroy  their  wisdom  and 
prudence,  is  in  that  he  will  speak  as  aforetime,  and  will  re- 
establish his  own  precepts  in  the  face  of  these  "precepts  of 
men,"  and  cause  the  words  of  the  sealed  book  to  be  read, 
which  neither  the  wise,  nor  the  learned  and  prudent  could  do. 

That  the  nations  of  Christendom  are  in  the  condition  as 
described  above,  cannot  be  denied.  How  could  a  state  of 
apostasy  from  the  gospel  be  better  or  more  plainly  shown  ? 
That  such  an  apostasy  would  occur,  and  that  it  was  foreseen 
by  the  prophets  and  apostles  "set  in  the  Church/'  is  clearly 
shown  in  their  writings: 

"For  the  time  will  come  when  they  will  not  endure  sound  doctrine, 
but  after  their  own  lusts  shall  they  heap  to  themselves  teachers,  having 
itching  ears,  and  they  shall  turn  their  ears  from  the  truth,  and  be  turned 
unto  fables."  (/) 

"For  I  know  this,  that  after  my  departing  shall  grievous  wolves  enter 
in  among  you,  not  sparing  the  flock.  Also  of  your  own  selves  shall  men 
arise,  speaking  perverse  things,  to  draw  away  disciples  after  them."  (g) 

"Let  no  man  deceive  you  by  any  means,  for  that  day,  [the  second 
coming  of  Christ],  shall  not  come,  except  there  come  a  falling  away  first, 
and  that  man  of  sin  be  revealed,  the  son  of  perdition."  (h) 

Of  this  anti-Christian  power  we  are  told : 

"And  it  was  given  unto  him  to  make  war  with  the  Saints,  and  to  over- 

(d)  Isaiah  29  : 12.        (e)  Isaiah  29  :  13, 14.        (/)  2  Tim.  4  :  3,  4. 
(g)  Acts  20  :  29,  30.  (h)  2  These.  2  :  3. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  Ill 

Come  them,  and  power  was  given  him  over  all  kindreds,  and  tongues 
and  nations."  (*) 

This  same  power  is  represented  under  the  figure  of  a  wom- 
an upon  whose  forehead  was  her  name  written  as  follows: 

"Mystery,  Babylon  the  Great,  the  Mother  of  Harlots  and  Abomination 
of  the  Earth.  And  I  saw  the  woman  drunken  with  the  blood  of  the 
saints,  *  *  *  with  whom  the  kings  of  the  earth  have  committed  forni- 
cation, and  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  have  been  made  drunk  with  the 
wine  of  her  fornication."  (f) 

These  inhabitants  of  the  earth  "are  peoples,  and  multitudes, 
and  nations,  and  tongues."  (&)  And  the  same  "kindreds,  and 
tongues,  and  nations,"  are  referred  to  in  the  thirteenth  chap- 
ter; and  these  are  "the  multitude  of  all  the  nations"  whom 
the  prophet  Isaiah  saw  drunken  and  staggering,  with  closed 
eyes  and  in  sleep,  yet  drawing  near  to  the  Lord  in  lip  service, 
"having  a  form  of  godliness,  but  denying  the  power  thereof," 
"ever  learning,  and  never  able  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  truth."  (7)  The  cause  of  this  situation  of  the  nations  is 
further  manifested  as  follows : 

"The  earth  also  is  defiled  under  the  inhabitants  thereof,  because  they 
have  transgressed  the  laws,  changed  the  ordinance,  and  broken  the 
everlasting  covenant."  (m) 

In  the  midst  of  such  a  condition  of  the  nations  the  sealed 
book  must  come  forth,  and  "wo  unto  them  that  seek  deep  [by 
cunning]  to  hide  their  counsel  [or  design]  from  the  Lord;" 
for  "surely  your  turning  of  things  upside  down  shall  be  es- 
teemed as  the  potter's  clay."  This  clearly  indicates  the 
opposition  to  the  marvelous  work  on  the  part  of  those  wise  and 
prudent  men,  among  the  people,  who  draw  near  to  the  Lord 
with  their  mouth  and  lips,  but  in  their  efforts  to  maintain  the 
"precepts  of  men,"  against  the  words  of  the  book,  in  their 
blind  and  drunken  condition^  "turn  things  upside  down;" 
that  is,  put  darkness  for  light,  and  light  for  darkness;  calling 
evil  good,  and  good  evil;  bitter  for  sweet,  reversing  the  truth, 
or  turning  it  info  a  lie.  But  the  efforts  put  forth  will  be  es- 
teemed as  crude  as  the  potter's  clay.  The  remnant  of  the 
church  is  among  them,  but  they  neither  have  skill  nor  power 
to  reorganize  the  Church  of  Christ,  any  more  than  one  un- 
learned in  the  potter's  trade  can  form  an  article  honorable  to 
the  art. 

While  this  marvellous  work  is  thus  coming  forth  the 
prophet  says : 

(0  Rev.  13  :  7.          (j)  Rev.  17  :  5,  6,  2.          (fc)  Isaiah  29  :  15, 
(0  2  Tim.  3  :  5-7.        (m)  Isaiah  24  :  5. 


112  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

"Is  it  not  yet  a  very  little  while,  and  Lebanon  shall  be  turned  into  a 
fruitful  field,  and  the  fruitful  field  shall  be  esteemed  as  a  forest?"  (n) 

This  fixes  the  date  for  this  sealed  book's  coming  forth,  and 
the  marvelous  work  accompanying  it.  It  is  a  little  before  the 
sterility  and  barrenness  of  the  land  of  Israel  yields  its  sceptre 
of  curse,  and  Lebanon  becomes  a  fruitful  field,  set  with  its 
famous  olive;  and,  so  rapid  will  be  its  growth,  that  it  will 
soon  "be  esteemed  as  a  forest;"  also,  it  is  said,  "and  in  that 
day  shall  the  deaf  hear  the  words  of  the  book,  and  the  eyes  of 
the  blind  shall  see  out  of  obscurity,  and  out  of  darkness ;"  (o) 
and  the  words  of  the  book  will  cause  the  meek  also  to  in- 
crease their  joy  in  the  Lord,  and  the  poor  among  men  shall 
rejoice  in  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  (jp)  It  is  clear  from  this, 
that  in  connection  with  the  words  of  the  book  here  alluded  to, 
the  gospel  is  to  be  preached  to  the  poor  and  the  meek  of  the 
earth,  who  will  receive  it  "gladly;"  and  it  will  increase  their 
joy,  as  it  did  the  people  of  Samaria  at  the  preaching  of  Phillip. 
Cq)  And  this  implies  a  dispensation  of  the  gospel  committed 
from  heaven  at  that  time,  as  indicated  by  the  vision  of  John : 

"And  I  saw  another  angel  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  having  the  ever- 
lasting gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to  every 
nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people,  saying  with  a  loud  voice, 
Fear  God,  and  give  glory  to  him ;  for  the  hour  of  his  judgment  is  come."  (r) 

And  this  day  or  dispensation,  Isaiah  shows,  is  to  be  one  of 
judgment: 

"For  the  terrible  one  is  brought  to  nought,  and  the  scorner  [at  the 
marvelous  work]  is  consumed,  and  all  that  watch  for  iniquity,  [do  ini- 
quity in  my  name],  shall  be  cut  off ;  and  that  make  a  man  an  offender 
for  a  word,  and  turn  asido  the  just  for  a  thing  of  nought."  (s) 

Who  is  the  terrible  one  here  spoken  of?  Is  it  not  that 
same  anti-Christ-power  that  hath  blinded  and  made  drunk  all 
these  nations,  upon  whom  she  sits  like  a  fatal  incubus,  para- 
lyzing their  moral  and  spiritual  faculties, — priestcraft  per- 
sonified in  the  rider  upon  the  scarlet  colored  beast?  Hence, 
another  voice  from  heaven  was  heard,  after  the  gospel  is 
restored : 

"Saying,  Come  out  of  her,  my  people,  [not  my  church,  but  the  rem- 
nant of  her  seed],  that  ye  be  not  partakers  of  her  sins,  and  that  ye  re- 
ceive not  of  her  plagues."  (t) 

The  making  a  man  an  offender  for  a  word  shows  that  the 
same  pharisaical  hypocrisy  and  self-righteous  blind  leaders  of 
the  blind  should  exist  in  this  dispensation  as  in  that  when 

(n)  laaiah  29  : 17.    (o)  Isaiah  29  : 18.    (p)  isatah  29  : 19.    (<?)  Acts  8  :  8. 
(r)  Rer.  H  ;  (5,  7,    (s)  Isaiah  29  :  20,  81.    (t)  Rev.  18  ;  4, 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  113 

Jesus  came  to  bear  testimony  to  the  truth,  when  he  was  made 
an  offender  by  this  same  class,  of  whom  he  said,  "Except  your 
righteousness  exceed  theirs,  you  can  in  no  case  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  God/'  But,  because  this  is  an  hour  of  judgment 
upon  the  "terrible  one1  that  has  ruled  the  nations,  who  have 
trodden  down  the  Holy  City,  and  led  captive  her  children, 
the  promise  is: 

"Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord,  who  redeemed  Abraham,  concerning 
the  house  of  Jacob,  Jacob  shall  not  NOW  be  ashamed,  neither  shall  his 
face  NOW  wax  pale.  They  shall  sanctify  the  Holy  One  of  Jacob,  and 
shall  fear  the  God  of  Israel."  (u) 

What  is  it  that  shall  remove  the  cause  of  Jacob's  shame 
and  paleness  f  Ezra  says : 

"0  my  God,  I  am  shamed  and  blush  to  lift  up  my  face  to  thee,  my 
God;  and' for  our  iniquities  have  we,  our  kings,  and  our  priests,  been 
delivered  into  the  hand  of  the  kings  of  the  lands,  to  the  sword,  to  cap- 
tivity, and  to  a  spoil,  and  to  confusion  of  face,  as  it  is  this  day."  (v) 

Here  it  was  iniquity  and  captivity  that  caused  shame.  So 
that,  to  remove  the  cause  of  shame  in  Jacob,  he  must  return 
to  obedience,  and  must  be  restored  to  his  possessions.  And 
when  the  before  mentioned  judgments  are  being  felt,  the  word 
of  promise  is : 

"Then  look  up,  and  lift  up  your  heads,  for  your  redemption  draweth 
nigh."  (w) 

"For  I  would  not,  brethren,  that  ye  should  be  ignorant,  that  blind- 
ness in  part  is  happened  to  Israel,  until  the  fullness  of  the  Gentiles,  [the 
multitude  of  those  nations],  be  come  in.  And  so  all  Israel  shall  be 
saved;  as  it  is  written,  There  shall  come  out  of  Zion  the  Deliverer,  and 
shall  turn  away  ungodliness  from  Jacob."  (x) 

And  then  Jacob  need  not  be  ashamed;  for,  when  Jacob  is 
saved  from  his  captivity,  he  will  be  restored  to  the  land  of 
his  fathers: 

"Wherefore  do  I  see  every  man  with  his  hands  upon  his  loins,  as  a 
woman  in  travail,  and  all  faces  are  turned  into  paleness?  *  *  *  It  is 
even  the  time  of  Jacob's  trouble,  but  he  shall  be  saved  out  of  it.  For 
it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  that  I  will 
break  his  yoke  [the  GentilesJ  from  off  thy  neck ;  therefore  fear  thou  not, 

0  my  servant  Jacob,  saith  the  Lord;  neither  be  dismayed,  0  Israel;  for 
lo,  I  will  save  thee  from  afar,  and  thy  seed  from  the  land  of  their  cap- 
tivity; *  *  *  for  I  am  with  thee^  saith  the  Lord,  to  save  thee;  though 

1  make  a  full  end  of  all  nations  whither  I  have  scattered  thee.  *  *  *  I 
will  bring  again  the  captivity  of  Jacob's  tents,  and  have  mercy  on  his 
dwelling-places."  (y) 

"Behold,  I  will  take  the  children  of  Israel  from  among  the  heathen, 

(w)  Isaiah  29  :  22,  23.        (w)  Ezra  9  :  6,  7.        (w)  Luke  21  :  28. 
(*)  Romans  11  :  25,  26.     (y)  Jer.  30  :  6-18. 


114  VOICE  OF  WARNING. 

whither  they  be  gone,  and  will  gather  them  on  every  side,  and  bring 
them  into  their  own  land ;  and  I  will  make  them  one  nation  upon  the 
mountains  of  Israel;  and  one  king  shall  be  king  to  them  all:  and  they 
shall  be  no  more  two  nations,  neither  shall  they  be  divided  into  two. 
kingdoms  any  more  at  all."  (z) 

This  restoration  is  still  in  the  future,  and  when  the  times 
of  this  restitution  come,  it  is  the  fullness  of  the  times*of  the 
Gentiles,  and  the  time  of  deliverance  for  Jacob  ;  hence  this  is 
the  reason  why  he  "shall  not  now  be  ashamed,  neither  shall 
his  face  now  wax  pale." 

Another  characteristic  of  the  time  of  the  coming  forth  of 
the  sealed  book,  and  of  the  marvelous  work,  is  indicated  as 
follows ! 

"They  also  that  erred  in  spirit  shall  come  to  understanding,  and  they 
that  murmured  shall  learn  doctrine."  (a) 

Spirit  phenomena  has,  in  the  present  age,  developed  more 
diversity  of  opinion,  and  consequently  more  error,  than  any 
age  preceding.  And,  such  is  the  uncertainty  and  anxiety  of 
the  public  mind,  that  some  stable  criterion,  by  which  to  judge, 
is  pressingly  demanded;  and  here  is  promise  that  in  this  time 
shall  be  developed  the  means  by  which  those  erring  in  spirit 
shall  come  to  understanding.  This  has  been  done  already,  in 
part,  by  the  restoration  of  the  spiritual  gifts  promised  to  the 
believer;  among  which  "discerning  of  spirits"  is  received,  and 
visions  of  the  spirit  state  vouchsafed,  enabling  those  who  are 
exercised  therein  to  trace  spirit  manifestation  to  their  proper 
source. 

"And  they  that  murmured  shall  learn  doctrine."  Creed- 
ology,  the  creature  of  the  apostasy,  born  in  the  dark  ages, 
when  "ignorance  was  the  mother  of  devotion/'  and  arrogance 
the  framer  of  articles  of  faith  and  intolerance,  does  not  sit 
lightly  upon  the  soul  and  conscience  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. The  better  part  of  those  who  know  what  they  are, 
though  nurtured  up  in  their  profession,  do  not  believe  them, 
but  murmur  in  their  hearts  against  them.  These  shall,  in  the 
day  of  the  marvelous  work,  and  the  coming  forth  of  the  sealed 
book,  learn  doctrine,  the  true  doctrine  of  Christ,  when  they 
shall  cease  to  murmur,  and  joy  and  rejoicing  take  its  place. 

In  order  to  confirm  our  interpretation  and  application  of 
the  twenty-first  and  twenty-second  verses  of  Isaiah  twenty- 
ninth  chapter,  that  they  refer  to  the  near  approach  of  Israel's 
restoration  to  their  own  land,  we  cite  the  fact  that,  though  it 
has  been,  since  their  dispersion,  a  barren  waste,  and  a  thirsty 

(*)  Ezek.  37  :  21,  22.        (a)  Isaiah  29  :  24. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING.  116 

land;  yet  that  it  is  now,  even  as  in  former  times,  blessed  with 
the  former  and  the  latter  rain,  and  with  copious  dews  of 
heaven  developing  its  former  fertility,  and  that  they  are 
actually  now  returning,  rebuilding,  and  enjoying  the  renewed 
fatness  of  their  land,  thus  being  prepared  for  them  according 
to  promise. 

We  annex  the  following  testimony : 

"An  important  society  has  been  formed  in  Europe,  called  The  Inter- 
national Society  of  the  Orient,  to  prevent  the  grave  complications  arising 
out  of  the  Eastern  Question  and  to  regenerate  the  East,  by  infusing 
therein  the  spirit  of  Western  civilization.  To  accomplish  this  great 
result,  the  Society,  which  enrolls  among  its  members,  such  men  as  Na- 
poleon, Rothchiids,  and  Montefiore,  proposes  to  favor  the  development 
of  agriculture,  industry,  commerce,  and  public  works  in  the  East,  es- 
pecially in  Palestine ;  to  obtain  from  the  Turkish  government  certain 
privileges  and  monopolies,  chief  of  which  is  the  gradual  concession  and 
advancement  of  the  lands  of  Palestine ;  to  distribute  at  cash  prices  such 
of  those  lands  as  the  company  receives,  and  to  effect  the  colonization  of 
the  most  fertile  villages  of  the  Holy  Land.  The  Society,  after  having 
established  its  commercial  bureau  at  Constantinople  and  other  cities  of 
the  Turkish  empire,  will  construct  a  port  at  Joppa,  and  a  good  road,  or 
railroad,  from  that  city  to  Jerusalem.  Upon  the  north  of  this  road,  the 
Society  expects  land  to  be  ceded  by  Turkey,  which  they  will  sell  to 
Israelitish  families.  These,  in  their  turn,  will  create  now  colonies,  aided 
by  their  Oriental  co-religionists,  and  it  is  expected  special  committees 
will  send  thither  Jews  of  Morocco,  Poland,  Moldavia,  "Wallachia,  from 
the  East,  and  from  Africa.  The  Society  claim  that  the  plan  will  recon- 
struct the  holy  places  of  Jerusalem  in  a  Christian  manner,  put  an  end  to 
the  constant  conflict  between  the  great  powers  in  reference  to  them, 
transform  the  ancient  Jerusalem  into  a  new  and  great  city,  create 
European  colonies,  which  will  become,  in  time,  the  centers,  whence 
Occidental  civilization  will  spread  in  Turkey  and  penetrate  to  the  remote 
Orient.  The  Society  is  being  rapidly  formed,  with  the  strongest  in- 
fluences, financial  and  political  at  its  back.  The  Rothchiids,  Mores, 
Montefiore,  and  other  great  capitalists  among  the  Jews,  are  actively  in 
sympathy  with  the  undertaking.  The  plan  has  also  the  favor  of  more 
than  one  crowned  head  in  Europe,  amongst  them,  Napoleon,  of  whose 
special  theories  of  nationalities  it  is  a  development.  Several  prominent 
noblemen  of  England,  and  the  leading  names  of  the  Faubourg  St.  Ger- 
main are  also  among  its  friends.1'  (b) 

"It  [Palestine]  has  the  same  bright  sun  and  unclouded  sky,  as  well  as 
the  early  and  latter  rain,  which,  however,  is  diminished  in  quantity,  owing 
to  the  destruction  of  trees."  (c) 

The  following  is  from  a  recent  traveler  in  that  country : 

"I  arrived  in  Indiana  a  few  days  since,  from  the  Eastern  Continent.  I 
stopped  at  Joppa  nearly  the  whole  winter.  For  my  part  I  was  well 
pleased  with  the  country.  It  is  certainly  a  land  of  most  wonderful 

(6)  Chicago  Tribune,  Oct.  2, 1866.        (c)  Chambers'  Encyclopedia, 
vol  7,  p.  11.— Palestine. 


116  VOICE  OF 

fruitfuluess,  with  a  delightsome  climate,  producing  every  thing,  if  properly 
cultivated,  and  from  two  to  three  crops  in  a  year.  They  have  grain, 
fruit  and  vegetables  all  the  year  round;  in  fact  I  never  was  in  such  a 
country  before.  I  have  seen  much  good  country  in  Europe  and  America, 
but  none  to  compare  with  Palestine;  its  fruitfulness  is  uncommon,  and 
the  climate  the  most  delightsome ;  even  in  winter  I  did  not  see  the  least 
sort  of  frost,  and  vegetables  of  every  sort  were  growing  in  perfection  in 
gardens.  It  is  afad  that  the  rain  and  dew  are  restored;  recently,  in  1853, 
the  former  and  the  latter  rain  were  restored,  to  the"  astonishment  of  the  na- 
tives. The  Jews  have  been  returning  to  the  Holy  Land  for  some  time, 
and  are  increasing,  going  to  their  beloved  Canaan  from  many  parts  of 
Europe,  Asia  and  Africa.  They  are  making  preparations  to  rebuild 
cities  and  [build]  railroads.  The  fruit  in  Palestine  is  better  than  in 
Europe  and  America.  They  have  camels,  mules,  horses,  asses,  cattle, 
sheep  and  goats;  but  I  saw  no  hogs.  The  natives  are  generally 
friendly."  (d) 

"The  result  of  Dr.  Barclay's  observations  is  to  show  that  the  greatest 
fall  of  rain  at  Jerusalem  in  a  single  year  was  eighty -five  inches,  and  the 
smallest  forty-four,  the  mean  being  51  1-6.  These  figures  will  be  best 
appreciated  by  recollecting  that  the  average  rain  fall  at  London  during 
the  whole  year  is  only  twenty -five  inches,  and  that  in  the  wettest  parts 
of  the  country,  such  as  Cumberland  and  Devon,  it  rarely  exceeds  fifty 
inches.  As  in  the  time  of  our  Savior,  (Luke  12;  54),  the  rains  come 
chiefly  from  the  south,  or  south-west;  they  commence  at  the  end  of  Oc- 
tober, or  beginning  of  November,  and  continue  with  greater  or  lesser 
constancy  till  the  end  of  February,  or  middle  of  March,  and,  occasionally, 
though  rarely,  till  the  end  of  April.  Between  April  and  November, 
there  is,  with  the  rarest  exception,  an  uninterrupted  period  of  fine 
weather,  and  skies  without  a  cloud.  During  the  summer  the  dews  arc 
very  heavy,  and  often  saturate  the  traveler's  tent,  as  if  a  shower  had 
passed  over  it.  The  nights,  especially  towards  sunrise,  are  very  cold, 
and  thick  fog  or  mists  are  common  all  over  the  country.  Thunder 
storms  of  great  violence,  are  frequent  during  the  winter  months."  (e) 

Surely,  from  these  testimonies,  Jerusalem  can  no  more  be 
called  a  thirsty  land,  nor  a  barren  waste,  (/")$  but  rather 
Lebanon  has  indeed  become  "a  fruitful  field." 

J.  W.  BRIGGS. 


(d)  Louis  Tan  Buren,  Sen.,  NOT.  14,  A.D.  1867.         (e)  Die.  of  Bible,  by 
Wm.  Smith,  page  636.— Art.  Pelestine.      (/)  Ezek.  5 : 14 ;  38 :  8. 


THE  DOCTRINE  OF  CHRIST 


FALSE  DOCTRINES  OF  THE  NINETEENTH  CENTURY 


"Whosoever  transgresseth,  and  abideth  not  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ, 
hath  not  God.  He  that  abideth  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  he  hath  both 
the  Father  and  the  Son.11— 2  John  9v. 

DOCTRINE  OF  CHRIST  versus  DOCTRINES  OF  MEN. 


D.  OF  C. — "These  signs  shall  fol- 
low them  that  believe.1'  Mark  16:17. 

D.  OF  C. — "In  my  name  shall  they 
cast  out  devils."  17v. 

D.  OF  C. — "They  shall  speak  with 
new  tongues."  I7v. 

D.  OF  C.— "They  shall  take  up 
serpents,  and  if  they  drink  any 
deadly  thing,  it  shall  not  hurt  them. 
They  shall  lay  hands  on  the  sick, 
and  they  shall  recover."  18v. 

D.  OF  C. — "He  that  belioveth  on 
me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall  he 
do  also,  and  greater  works  than 
these  shall  he  do,  because  I  go  to 
the  Father."  John  14:12. 

D.  OF  C.— "There  is  nothing 
secret  that  shall  not  be  revealed, 
neither  hid  that  shall  not  be  known." 
Luke  8:17. 

D.  OF  C.— "He  shall  send  His 
angels,  and  they  shall  gather  His 
elect  from  the  four  winds,"  &c. 
Mat.  24:31. 


D.  OF  M. — These  signs  shall  not 
follow  them  that  believe,  for  they 
are  done  away,  and  no  longer  needed, 

D.  OF  M.— In  His  name  they 
shall  not  cast  out  devils. 

D.  OF  M. — The  gift  of  tongues  ia 
no  longer  needed. 

I).  OF  M. — If  they  take  up  ser- 
pents they  will  bite  them.  If  they 
drink  any  deadly  thing,  it  will  kill 
them.  They  shall  not  lay  hands 
on  the  sick  afld  they  recover;  for 
these  things  are  done  away. 

D.  OF  M. — He  that  believeth  on 
Christ,  shall  not  do  any  of  the 
miracles  and  mighty  works  that 
He  did,  for  such  things  have 
ceased. 

D.  OF  M. — There  is  to  be  no 
more  revelation,  for  all  things  nec- 
essary are  already  revealed. 

D.  OF  M. — There  is  to  be  no 
more  ministering  of  angels,  for  such 
things  are  done  away. 


118 


VOICE  OF  WARNING. 


D.  OF  C. — "I  saw  an  angel  flying 
in  the  midst  of  heaven,  having  the 
everlasting  gospel  to  preach  to  them 
that  dwell  on  the  earth."  Rev.  14 : 6. 

D.  OF  C.— "When  he,  the  Spirit 
of  truth  is  come,  he  will  guide  you 
into  all  truth,  *  *  *  and  he  will 
shew  you  things  to  come."  John 
16:13. 


D.  OF  C. — "If  ye  abide  in  me,  and 
my  words  abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask 
what  ye  will,  and  it  shall  be  done 
unto  you."  John  15:  17.  "If  ye 
shall  ask  any  thing  in  my  name  I 
will  do  it."  John  14:14. 

D.  OF  C. — "Neither  pray  I  for 
these  alone;  but  for  them  also 
which  shall  believe  on  me  through 
their  word :  that  they  all  may  be 
one;  as  thou,  Father,  art  in  me, 
and  I  in  thee,  that  they  also  may 
be  one  in  us :  that  the  world  may 
believe  that  thou  hast  sent  me." 
John  17:20,  21. 

D.  OF  C. — "One  Lord,  one  faith, 
one  baptism."  Eph.  4:  5. 

D.  OF  C. — "By  one  Spirit  are  ye 
all  baptized  into  one  body."  1  Gor. 
12:13. 

D.  OF  C. — "He  (Christ)  gave 
some  apostles,  and  some  prophets, 
and  some  evangelists,  and  some 
pastors,  and  somo  teachers,  for  the 
perfecting  of  the  Saints,  for  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  for  the  edify- 
ing of  the  body  of  Christ."  Eph. 
4:11. 


D.  OF  C. — These  gifts  and  offices 
were  to  continue  "till  we  all  come 
in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto 
a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of 
the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ." 
13v. 

D.  OF  C. — These  gifts  and  offices 
were  given  "that  we  henceforth  be 


D.  OF  M. — Angels  do  not  appear 
in  this  enlightened  age,  because 
they  are  no  longer  needed.  ' 

D.  OF  M. — Inspiration  is  no  lon- 
ger needed  in  this  age  of  learning 
and  refinement.  The  Spirit  will 
not  show  you  things  to  come,  for 
then  you  would  be  a  prophet,  and 
there  are  to  be  no  prophets  in  these 
days. 

D.  OF  M. — It  is  not  so  in  these 
days.  We  must  not  expect  to  heal 
the'  sick  and  work  miracles,  con- 
sequently we  must  not  expect  to 
receive  what  we  ask  for. 


D.  OF  M. — We  are  all  good 
Christians,  and  we  all  believe  on 
Him  through  the  apostles1  words, 
although  we  are  divided  into  sev- 
eral hundred  different  sects. 


D.  OF  M. — Many  lords,  many 
faiths,  and  three  or  four  kinds  of 
baptism. 

D.  OF  M. — By  many  spirits  are 
wo  all  torn  asunder  into  different 
bodies. 

D.  OF  M. — There  are  to  be  no 
more  apostles,  and  no  more  proph- 
ets. But  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
the  perfecting  of  the  Saints,  and 
the  edifying  of  the  different  bodies 
of  Christ,  can  all  be  done  very  well 
without  these  gifts  of  Grod;  only 
give  us  money  enough  to  educate 
and  employ  the  wisdom  of  men. 

D.  OF  M. — Apostles,  miracles, 
and  gifts,  were  to  continue  during 
the  first  age  of  Christianity,  and 
then  they  were  to  cease,  because 
no  longer  needed,  having  accom- 
plished their  purpose. 

D.  OF  M. — Tracts,  creeds,  ser" 
mons  and  commentaries  of  unin- 


VOICE  OF  WARNING. 


119 


no  more  children,  tossed  to  and  fro, 
and  carried  about  with  every  wind 
of  doctrine,  by  the  sleight  of  men, 
and  cunning  craftiness,  whereby 
they  lie  in  wait  to  deceive."  14v. 

D.  OF  C. — "No  man  taketh  this 
honor  unto  himself,  but.  he  that  is 
called  of  God,  as  was  Aaron.1' 
Heb.  v.  4. 

D.  OF  C.— "How  shall  they 
preach  except  they  bo  sent?"  (of 
God).  Rom.  10:  14. 

D.  OF  C. — uls  any  sick  among 
you?  Let  him  call  for  the  elders  of 
the  Church;  and  let  them  pray 
over  him,  anointing  him  with  oil  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord:  and  the 
prayer  of  faith  shall  save  the  sick, 
and  the  Lord  shall  raise  him  up; 
and  if  he  have  committed  sins,  they 
shall  be  forgiven  him."  Jas. 
5:14,  15. 

D.  OF  C.— "Repent,  and  be  bap- 
tized every  one  of  you  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  remission  of 
sins,  and  ye  shall  receive  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  For  the 
promise  is  unto  you,  and  to  your 
children,  and  to  all  that  are  afar 
off,  even  as  many  as  the  Lord  our 
God  shall  call."  Acts  2:  38,  39. 

D.  OF  C. — "It  shall  come  to  pass 
in  the  last  days,  saith  God,  I  will 
pour  out  of  my  Spirit  upon  all 
flesh:  and  your  sons  and  your 
daughters  shall  prophesy,  and  your 
young  men  shall  see  visions,  and 
your  old  men  shall  dream  dreams." 
17v." 

D.  OF  C.— "Follow  after  charity, 
and  desire  spiritual  gifts,  but  rather 
that  ye  may  prophesy."  1  Cor. 
14:1. 

D.  OF  C. — "Covet  to  prophesy, 
and  forbid  not  to  speak  with 
tongues."  38v. 

D.  OF  C. — "In  vain  they  do  wor- 
ship me,  teaching  for  doctrines  the 


spired  men,  together  with  a  hire- 
ling priesthood,  are  now  necessary 
in  order  to  keep  men  from  being 
carried  about  with  every  wind  of 
doctrine,  &c. 

D.  OF  M.— No  man  taketh  this 
honor  unto  himself  but  he  who  has 
been  educated  for  the  purpose,  and 
commissioned  by  men. 

D.  OF  M.— How  shall  they 
preach  except  they  be  well  edu- 
cated for  the  purpose,  and  sent  by 
the  board  of  officers. 

D.  OF  M. — If  any  are  sick  amonj 
you  do  not  send  for  the  elders  of 
the  Church;  or  if  the  elders  come, 
do  not  let  them  lay  hands  on  them, 
neither  let  them  anoint  them  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  for  this  is  all  a 
Mormon  delusion,  but  send  for  a 
good  physician,  and  perhaps  you 
may  get  well. 

D.  OF  M. — Repent  and  come  to 
the  anxious  seat,  or  mourners' 
bench,  every  one  of  you,  and  cry 
"Lord,  Lord,"  and  you  will  get  for- 
giveness of  sins;  but  you  may  be 
baptized  or  not;  but  if  you  are  bap- 
tized, you  will  riot  get  the  Holy 
Ghost  as  the}7  did  anciently,  for 
such  things  are  done  away. 

D.  OF  M. — In  these  last  days  the 
Lord  will  not  pour  out  of  His  Spirit,, 
so  as  to  cause  our  sons  and  daugh- 
ters to  prophesy,  our  old  men  to. 
dream  dreams,  and  our  young  mc^ 
to  see  visions;  for  such  things  are, 
no  longer  needed,  and  it  is  a  de-. 
lusion,  and  none  but  the  ignorant, 
believe  such  things. 

D.  OF  M. — Do  not  covet  any  of 
the  supernatural  gifts,  but  es- 
pecially beware  of  prophesying,  for 
such  things  arc  done  away. 

D.  OF  M. — Do  not  prophes}',  and 
it  is  entirely  a  delusion  to  speak  in 
tongues. 

D.  OF  M. — It  matters  not  what 
kind  of  doctrine,  or  what  system  a- 


120 


VOICE  OF  WARNING. 


commandments  of  men."  Mat.  15 : 9. 

D.  OF  C.— UI  thank  tliee,  0 
Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth, 
because  thou  hast  hid  these  things 
from,  the  wise  and  prudent,  and 
hast  revealed  them  unto  babes. 
Even  so,  Father,  for  so  it  seemed 
good  in  thy  sight.1'  Mat.  11 :  25,  26. 

D.  OF  C. — "No  man  knoweth 
the  Son  but  the  Father,  neither 
knoweth  any  man  the  Father  save 
the  Son,  and  lie  to  whomsoever  the 
Son  will  reveal  him."  27v. 

D.  OF  C.— "This  is  life  eternal, 
that  they  might  know  Thee,  the 
only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ 
whom  thou  hast  sent."  John 
17:  3. 

D.  OF  C.—  "I  thank  my  God 
always  on  your  behalf,  for  the 
grace  of  God  which  is  given  you 
by  Jesus  Christ,  that  in  every 
thing  ye  are  enriched  by  him  in  all 
utterance,  and  in  all  knowledge, 
even  as  the  testimony  of  Christ 
(the  Spirit  of  prophecy)  was  con- 
firmed in  you,  so  that  ye  come  be- 
hind in  no  gift,  waiting  for  the 
coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
1  Cor.  1:  4-7. 


D.  OF  C. — "The  foolishness  of 
God  is  wiser  than  men,  and  the 
weakness  of  God  is  stronger  than 
men.  For  ye  see  your  calling 
brethren,  how  that  not  many  wise 
men  after  the  flesh,  not  many 
mighty,  not  many  noble  are  called : 
but  God  hath  chosen  the  foolish 
things  of  the  world,  to  confound  the 
wise,  and  God  hath  chosen  the 
weak  things  of  the  world,  to  con- 
found the  things  which  are  mighty; 
and  base  things  of  the  world,  and 
things  which  are  despised,  hath 
God  chosen :  yea,  and  things  which 


man  embraces,  if  he  is  only  sincere, 
and  worships  Jesus  Christ. 

D.  OF  M.— We  thank  God  that 
he  has  revealed  nothing  to  any 
person,  wise  or  simple,  for  many 
hundred  years,  but  that  our  wise 
and  learned  men  have  been  able  to 
know  God  without  revelation,  and 
that  we  shall  never  be  favored  with 
any  more. 

D.  OF  M.— We  all  know  God  in 
this  enlightened  age,  and  yet  neither 
the  Father  nor  the  Son  has  revealed 
any  thing  to  any  of  us,  for  we  do 
not  believe  revelations  are  neces- 
sary now. 

D.  OF  M. — We  cannot  know  for 
ourselves,  by  any  positive  mani- 
festation in  these  days,  but  must 
depend  on  the  wisdom  and  learning 
of  men. 

D.  OF  M.— We  thank  the  Lord 
always  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 
these  days,  that  she  has  no  super- 
natural gifts  given  unto  her,  and 
that  she  is  not  enriched  by  Christ, 
neither  in  the  gift  of  utterance,  nor 
in  the  gift  of  knowledge,  neither 
has  she  the  testimony  of  Jesus  (the 
Spirit  of  prophecy)  confirmed  in 
her,  and  she  comes  behind  in  all 
the  gifts;  nor  is  she  waiting  for, 
nor  expecting  the  coming  of  the 
Lord,  for  he  has  come  once,  and 
never  will  come  again  till  the  great 
and  last  day,  the  end  of  the  earth. 

D.  OF  M. — The  wisdom  of  men, 
and  the  learning  of  men  is  better 
than  the  inspiration  of  the  Almighty, 
for  that  is  not  needed  any  longer; 
for  you  see  your  calling  brethren, 
how  that  the  wise  and  learned,  and 
noble  and  the  mighty,  are  called  in 
these  days,  for  we  have  chosen 
such  to  confound  the  foolish,  the 
unlearned,  and  the  ignorant;  yea,  to 
confound  the  base  things  of  the 
wrorld  which  are  despised,  that 
flesh  might  glory  in  his  presence. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING. 


121 


are  not,  to  bring  to  nought  things 
that  are ;  that  no  flesh  should  glory 
in  his  presence."  1  Cor.  1 :  25-29. 
D.  OF  C. — "I,  brethren,  when  I 
came  to  you,  came  not  with  ex- 
cellency of  speech;  or  of  wisdom, 
declaring  unto  you  the  testimony 
of  God;  for  I  determined  not  to 
know  any  thing  among  you,  save 
Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified; 
and  I  was  with  you  in  weakness, 
and  in  fear,  and  in  much  trembling ; 
and  my  speech  and  my  preaching 
was  not  with  enticing  words  of 
man's  wisdom ;  but  in  demonstration 
of  the  Spirit,  and  of  power;  that 
your  faith  should  not  stand  in  the 
wisdom  of  men,  but  in  the  power 
of  God."  1  Cor.  2:  1-5. 

D.  OF  C. — "But  we  speak  the 
wisdom  of  God  in  a  mystery,  even 
the  hidden  wisdom,  which  God  or- 
dained before  the  world  unto  our 
glory;  which  none  of  the  princes 
of  this  world  knew,  for  had  they 
known  it,  they  would  not  have 
crucified  the  Lord  of  glory."  7,  8v. 

D.  OF  C.— "But  God  hath  re- 
vealed them  unto  us  by  his  Spirit; 
for  the  Spirit  searcheth  all  things, 
yea  the  deep  things  of  God."  lOv. 


D.  OF  C. — uFor  what  man 
knoweth  the  things  of  man,  save 
the  spirit  of  man  which  is  in  him? 
Even  so  the  tilings  of  God  knoweth 
no  man  but  the  Spirit  of  God."  1  Iv. 


D.  OF  C. — uNow  we  have  re- 
ceived not  the  spirit  of  the  world, 
but  the  Spirit  which  is  of  God; 
that  we  might  know  the  things 
that  are  freely  given  to  us  of 
God."  12v. 

D.  OF  C.— "Which  things  also 
we  speak,  not  in  the  words  which 
man's  wisdom  teachcth,  but  which 
the  Hoty  Ghost  teachcth,  compar- 


D.  OF  M. — We,  brethren,  when 
we  came  unto  you,  came  with 
excellency  of  speech,  and  with  the 
wisdom  and  learning  of  man,  and 
our  speech,  and  our  preaching  were 
with  enticing  words  of  man's  wis- 
dom, not  in  demonstration  of  the 
Spirit,  and  power,  for  this  is  done 
away ;  that  your  faith  should  not 
stand  in  the  power  of  God,  but  in 
the  wisdom  of  man. 


D.  OF  M. — We  speak  the  wisdom 
of  men,  in  a  mystery,  even  the  hid- 
den wisdom  which  none  but  the 
learned  know,  for  had  others  known 
it,  they  would  never  have  been 
under  the  necessity  of  employing 
us  to  tell  it  to  them. 

D.  OF  M. — But  God  hath  revealed 
nothing  unto  us  by  His  Spirit;  for 
the  wisdom  and  learning  of  men 
searcheth  all  things;  yea,  all  the 
deep  things  which  are  necessary 
for  us  to  know. 

D.  OF  M. — For  what  man  know- 
eth the  things  of  man,  save  the 
spirit  of  man  which  is  in  him ;  even 
so  the  things  of  God  knoweth  no 
man  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  in  these 
days ;  for  it  is  done  away,  and  it  re- 
veals nothing. 

D.  OF  M. — Now  we  have  not 
received  the  Spirit  of  God,  but  the 
spirit  of  the  world,  that  we  might 
not  know  for  a  certainty,  but  that 
we  might  guess  at,  or  give  our 
opinion,  of  the  things  of  God. 

D.  OF  M. — Which  things  also  we 
speak  not  in  the  words  which  tho 
Holy  Ghost  teacheth,  but  which 
man's  wisdom  teacheth,  for  the 


122 


VOICE  OF  WARNING. 


ing  spiritual  things  with  spiritual." 
13v. 

D.  OF  C. — "But  the  natural  man 
receiveth  not  the  things  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  for  they  are  foolish- 
ness unto  him ;  neither  can  ho  know 
them,  because  they  are  spiritually 
discerned."  14v. 

D.  OF  C. — "Let  no  man  deceive 
himself.  If  any  man  among  you 
seometh  to  bo  wise  in  this  world, 
let  him  become  a  fool,  that  ho  may 
bo  wise."  1  Cor.  3:18. 

D.  OF  0.— "For  the  wisdom  of 
this  world  is  foolishness  with  God, 
for  it  is  written,  'He  taketh  the 
wise  in  their  own  craftiness;'  and 
again,  'the  Lord  knoweth,  the 
thoughts  of  the  wise,  that  they  are 
vain.'  Therefore  let  no  man  glory 
in  men."  19-21v. 

D.  OF  C. — "Now  concerning 
spiritual  gifts,  brethren,  I  would 
not  have  you  ignorant."  1  Cor. 
12:1. 

D.  OF  C. — "For  the  manifestation 
of  the  Spirit,  is  given  to  every  man 
to  profit  withal.1'  1v. 

D.  OF  C. — "For  to  one  is  given 
by  the  Spirit  the  word  of  wisdom ; 
to  another  the  word  of  knowledge 
by  the  same  Spirit."  8v. 

D.  OF  C.— "To  another,  faith  by 
the  same  Spirit;  and  to  another, 
the  gift  of  healing  by  the  same 
Spirit."  9v. 

D.  OF  C. — To  another,  the  work- 
ing of  miracles,  to  another,  proph- 
ecy; to  another,  discerning  of 
spirits;  to  another,  divers  kinds  of 
tongues;  to  another,  the  interpre- 
tation of  tongues."  lOv. 

D.  OF  C.— "For  as  the  body  is 
one,  and  hath  many  members,  and 
all  the  members  of  that  one  body 
being  many,  are  one  body,  so  also 
is  Christ,"  12v. 


inspiration  of  the  Holy  Ghost  is 
done  away. 

D.  OF  M. — But  the  learned  man 
may  receive  and  understand  the 
things  of  God,  by  his  own  wisdom, 
without  the  inspiration  of  the  Spirit, 
for  who  will  be  so  foolish  as  to  be- 
lieve in  visions  and  revelations  in 
this  religious  age. 

D.  OF  M. — Let  no  man  deceive 
himself.  If  any  man  among  you 
seems  to  be  wise  in  the  things  of 
God,  let  him  get  the  wisdom  of  men, 
that  he  may  be  wise. 

D.  OF  M. — For  the  wisdom  of 
God  is  foolishness  with  the  world ; 
for  it  is  written,  let  us  educate 
young  men  for  the  ministry,  and  let 
no  man  preach  who  has  not  been 
educated  for  the  purpose,  and  we 
will  receive  no  man  who  professes 
to  be  inspired. 

D.  OF  M. — Now  concerning 
spiritual  gifts,  brethren,  we  would 
have  you  entirely  ignorant,  for  they 
are  not  needed  at  all  in  this  gen- 
eration. 

D.  OF  M. — For  the  manifestation 
of  the  Spirit  is  given  to  no  man  to 
profit  at  all. 

D.  OF  M. — But  to  one  is  given 
by  the  learning  of  men,  the  word 
of  wisdom ;  and  to  another  the  word 
of  knowledge  by  human  learning. 

D.  OF  M. — God  gives  to  another 
faith,  by  the  same  Spirit,  but  to 
none  the  gift  of  healing  by  the  same 
Spirit. 

D.  OF  M. — God  gives  to  none  the 
working  of  miracles,  and  to  none 
to  prophesy,  and  to  none  discerning 
of  spirits,  and  to  none  to  speak  with 
divers  kinds  of  tongues,  and  to 
none  to  interpret  tongues. 

D.  OF  M. — For  as  the  body  is 
composed  of  many  sects  and  parties 
who  are  opposed  to  each  other, 
and  have  no  gifts,  and  being  many 
sects,  are  but  one  body,  so  also  is 
Christ. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING. 


123 


D.  OF  0.— -  "For  by  one  Spirit 
are  we  all  baptized  into  one  body, 
whether  we  be  Jews  or  Gentiles; 
whether  we  be  bond  or  tree,  and 
have  been  all  made  to  drink  into 
one  Spirit."  13v. 

D.  OF  C. — "For  the  body  is  not 
one  member,  but  many.11  14v. 

D  OF  0.  "But  now  hath  God 
set  the  members  everyone  of  them 
in  the  body,  as  it  hath  pleased 
him."  18v. 

D.  OF  C. — "And  if  they  were  all 
one  member,  where  were  the 
body?"  19v. 

D.  OF  C. — "But  now  are  they 
many  members,  yet  one  body." 
20v. 

D.  OF  C.— "Now  ye  are  the 
body  of  Christ,  and  members  in 
particular."  27v. 

D.  OF  C.— "And  God  hath  set 
some  in  the.  Church,  first,  apos- 
tles; secondarily,  prophets;  thirdly, 
teachers;  after  that  miracles,  then 
gifts  of  healings,  helps,  govern- 
ments, diversities  of  tongues."  28v. 

D.  OF  C. — "Blessed  are  ye  when 
men  shall  revile  you,  and  persecute 
you,  and  shall  say  all  manner  of 
evil  against  you  falsely,  for  my  sake. 
Rejoice  and  be  exceedingly  glad, 
for  great  is  your  reward  in  heaven; 
for  so  persecuted  they  the  prophets 
which  were  before  you."  Matt. 
5:  11,  12. 

D.  OF  C. — "Give  to  him  that 
asketh  thee,  and  from  him  that 
would  borrow  of  thee,  turn  thou 
not  away."  42 v. 


D.  OF  C. — "Be  ye  therefore  per- 
fect; even  as  your  Father  who  is 
in  heaven  is  perfect."  48v. 

D.  OF  C. — "Take  heed  that  you 
do  not  your  alms  before  men,  to  be 
seen  of  them,  otherwise  you  have 


D.  OF  M. — By  many  spirits  we 
are  all  baptized  into  many  bodies, 
whether  we  be  Catholics  or  Prot- 
estants, Presbyterians  or  Method- 
ists, but  have  all  drank  into  one 
spirit,  even  the  spirit  of  the  world . 

D.  OF  M. — The  body  is  not  one 
sect,  but  many. 

D.  OF  M. — Now  hath  the  God 
of  this  world  set  the  sects  and  par- 
ties fin  the  body  of  Antichrist]  as 
it  hath  pleased  him. 

D.  OF  M. — Tf  they  were  all  one 
sect,  where  were  the  body? 

D.  OF  M. — Now  are  they  many 
sects,  yet  but  one  body  [even 
Babylon.] 

D.  OF  M.  Now  ye  are  the 
bodies  of  Christ,  f  Antichrist]  and 
members  in  particular. 

D.  OF  M. — Man  hath  set  some  in 
the  Church;  first  a  hired  minister; 
second  a  board  of  officers;  thirdly, 
tracts;  then  commentaries,  creeds, 
diversities  of  opinions,  societies,  and 
wondrous  helps. 

D.  OF  M. — Woe  unto  you  when 
men  revile  you,  and  persecute  you, 
and  say  all  manner  of  evil  against 
you  falsely,  for  Christ's  sake.  La- 
ment ye,  and  be  exceedingly  sor- 
rowful in  that  hour,  for  little  is 
your  reward  among  men,  for  so 
they  do  to  the  Latter  Day  Saints. 

D.  OF  M. — Give  to  him  that 
asketh  of  thee,  if  he  be  able  to 
make  thee  a  similar  present  ;  and 
from  him  that  would  borrow  of 
thee,  turn  thou  not  away  if  he  be 
able  to  pay  thee  again  with  in- 
terest. 

D.  OF  M.— Do  not  think  to  be 
perfect;  for  it  is  impossible  to  live 
without  sin. 

D.  OF  M. — Take  heed  that  you 
do  your  alms  before  men,  to  be 
seen  of  them ;  otherwise  you  have 


124 


VOICE  OF  WARNING. 


no  reward  of  your  Father  who  is 
in  heaven."  Mat.  6 :  1. 

D.  OF  C.— "Therefore  when  thou 
doest  thine  alms,  do  not  sound  a 
trumpet  before  thee  as  the  hypo- 
crites do,  in  the  synagogues,  and 
in  the  streets,  that  they  may  have 
glory  of  men.  Yerily  I  say  unto 
you,  they  shall  have  their  re- 
ward." 2v. 

D.  OF  C.— "And  when  thou 
prayest,  thou  shalt  not  be  as  the 
hypocrites  are,  for  they  love  to 
pray  standing  in  the  synagogues, 
and  in  the  corners  of  the  streets, 
that  they  may  be  seen  of  men."  5v. 

D.  OF  C. — "Moreover  when  ye 
fast,  be  not  as  the  hypocrites,  of  a 
sad  countenance,  for  they  disfigure 
their  faces,  that  they  may  appear 
unto  men  to  fast.  Yerily  I  say  un- 
to you,  they  have  their  reward  " 
16v. 

D.  OF  C. — "Lay  not  up  for  your- 
selves treasures  upon  earth,  where 
moth  and  rust  doth  corrupt,  and 
where  thieves  break  through  and 
steal,  but  lay  up  for  yourselves 
treasures  in  heaven,  where  neither 
moth  nor  rust  doth  corrupt,  and 
where  thieves  do  not  break  through 
and  steal,  for  where  your  treasure 
is,  there  will  your  heart  be  also." 
19-21v. 

D.  OF  C.— "Therefore  all  things 
whatsoever  ye  would  that  men 
should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to 
them ;  for  this  is  the  law  and  the 
prophets."  Mat.  7:12. 

D.  OF  C.— "Enter  ye  in  at  the 
strait  gate,  for  wide  is  the  gate  and 
broad  is  the  way,  that  leadeth  to 
destruction,  and  many  there  be 
which  go  in  thereat."  13v. 

D.  OF  C. — "Because,  strait  is  the 
gate,  and  narrow  is  the  way  that 
leadeth  unto  life,  and  few  there  be 
that  find  it."  14v. 


no  reward,   nor   praise    from   the 
children  of  men. 

D.  OF  M.— When  thou  doost 
thine  alms,  publish  it  in  the  Mis- 
sionary Eerald,  or  some  other  paper, 
that  you  may  get  praise  of  the 
world.  Yerily  I  say  unto  you, 
you  shall  have  your  reward. 


D.  OF  M. — "When  thou  prayest, 
be  like  the  hypocrites  in  days  of 
old;  go  before  the  public  and  cry 
mightily,  not  expecting  to  be  heard 
and  answered,  for  that  would  be 
miraculous,  and  miracles  have 
ceased. 

D.  OF  M. — Moreover  when  ye 
fast,  be  like  the  hypocrites,  of  a 
sad  countenance,  that  they  mav 
appear  unto  men  to  fast;  so  that 
you  may  get  your  reward. 


D.  OF  M. — Lay  up  for  yourselves 
abundance  of  treasures  on  tho 
earth,  where  moth  and  rust  doth 
corrupt,  and  where  thieves  break- 
through and  steal,  for  if  your  heart 
is  only  in  heaven,  it  is  no  matter 
how  rich  you  are  in  this  world; 
for  now  it  is  come  to  pass  that  ye 
can  serve  God  and  Mammon. 


D.  OF  M. — Therefore  all  things 
whatsoever  men  do  to  you,  do  ye 
even  so  to  them,  for  this  is  the  law 
and  the  practice. 

D.  OF  M. — Enter  ye  in  at  the 
wide  gate  where  the  multitude  go, 
for  it  cannot  be  that  all  our  great 
and  learned  men  are  wrong,  and 
nobody  right  but  a  few  ©bscure 
individuals. 

D.  OF  M. — For  the  narrow  way 
is  not  only  altogether  too  strait,  but 
onl}7  a  very  few  travel  in  it. 


VOICE  OF  WARNING. 


125 


D.  OF  C.  —  "Beware  of  false 
prophets,  which  come  to  you  in 
sheep's  clothing,  but  inwardly  they 
are  ravening  wolves.  Ye  shall 
know  them  by  their  fruits.  Do 
men  gather  grapes  of  thorns  or 
figs  of  thistles?"  15,  16v. 

^ 

D.  OF  C.  —  "By  their  fruits  ye 
shall  know  them.  Not  every  one 
that  saith  unto  me  Lord,  Lord, 
shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  hut  he  that  doth  the  will 
of  my  Father  who  is  in  heaven.11 
20,  2lv. 

D.  OF  C.  —  "And  it  came  to  pass 
when  Jesus  had  ended  these  say- 
ings,  the  people  were  astonished  at 
his  doctrine,  for  he  taught  them  as 
one  having  authority,  and  not  as 
the  scribes."  28,  29v. 


D.  OF  M.  —  Beware  of  prophets 
who  come  to  you  with  the  word  of 
God,  you  may  know  at  once  they 
are  false  without  hearing  them  or 
examining  their  fruits;  for  popular 
opinion  is  against  them  ;  whereas  if 
they  were  men  of  God,  the  people 
would  speak  well  of  them. 

D.  OF  M.  —  If  we  are  only  sure 
that  we  have  experienced  religion, 
and  if  we  pray  often,  we  shall  be 
saved,  whether  we  do  the  Lord's 
will  or  not;  for  it  mattereth  not 
what  system  we  embrace,  whether 
it  is  right  or  wrong,  if  we  arc  only 
sincere. 

D.  OF  M.  —  Arid  it  came  to  pass 
when  men  had  ended  all  these  say- 
ings, the  people  were  pleased  with 
their  doctrines,  for  they  taught 
them  not  as  one  having  authority, 
but  as  the  scribes. 


RETURNING   TO   ZTON. 

Daughter   of  Zion,   from   the   dust, 

Kxalt   thy    fallen    head; 
Again   in   thy   Redeemer   trust, 

He   calls   thee   from   the   dead. 

Awake,   awake,   put  on   thy   strength, 

Thy   beautiful   array  ; 
The   day   of  freedom   dawns   at  length  — 

The   Lord's  appointed  day. 

Rebuild   thy   walls,    thy   bounds   enlarge, 

And   send   thy    heralds   forth, 
Say   to   the   south,   uGive   up   thy  charge," 

And   "Keep   not  "back,   0   north.1' 

They   come!    they   come!    thine   exiled   bands; 

Where'er   they   rest  or   roam, 
They've   heard   thy   voice   in   distant   lands, 

And  hasten   to   their  home. 

Thus,    though   the   present   world   shall   burn, 

And    God    his    works    destroy, 
With   songs    His   ransom'd   shall   return, 

With   everlasting  joy. 


Printed  at  the  Herald  Office,  Pluuo,  Kendall  Co.,  Illinois. 


